Why I Oughta...

One of the projects that I've worked on all season has been the rabbit fence.  The metal hardware cloth fence that I've created around the perimeter of our yard by attaching a segment to our existing cedar fence.   I have wanted to keep the rabbits out of the backyard.   But, it hasn't been perfect. There were always signs of entry. Could be little piles of rabbit turds. Or, I'd come across a plant and see that it had been gnaw'd off.   And, then...occasionally, I'd be out in the yard and see some movement.  I'd get closer and then I'd see something hop around.  A freaking rabbit got it.   I knew my fence setup wasn't perfect, but I thought it was pretty good.  So, each time I'd chase one of these rabbits away, I would go around the yard and see if I could find out where or how they were getting in.   Each time, I'd find a spot or two.   In the little gap between the compost bins. Where the cuts in the fence...

The past couple of days I posted some first-frost photos from around the garden.  On the coleus.   And on the dahlias.  The frost arrived over this past weekend, but before it did I went out and tended to the eucalyptus.  This year, I grew two varieties:  Silver Dollar and Baby Blue Bouquet Eucalyptus .  Both in the ground and in containers.   I went around to the plants that were in the ground and selected a few to transplant.  More on those in a little bit.  Then, I pruned off the tops and stuck them all in a big water pitcher.  Here's how much I collected: I transplanted a few and also brought inside the vertical garden tray that I'll (hopefully) try to get to stay alive all Winter.  More on those in a little bit.   #8 on my 2026 to-do list was to experiment with other 'cut flowers'.  Is this a flower?  No.  It isn't.   But #9 my list was to grow more 'accent plants' .  I sure feel lik...

Yesterday, I posted some photos about how the first (real) frost arrived and zapped the coleus pretty good and signaled the REAL end of the season around here.  I've read a bit about the environmental signals that get flashed inside of plants when they experience frost - and (hopefully) enter shutdown/dormancy mode.   One of those plants that was hit by frost, but NOT quite fully bitten are the dahlias.  Here, below are a couple of photos of one of the Saint Martin dahlia plants that is tucked into the bed under our kitchen window.  The first photo shows some of the dark, frost-bitten foliage that is curling up and looking sad: But, when you get closer to the bottom of the plant, you see a bunch of green, in-tact foliage.  See below: Google's Gemini tells me that the top getting hit with frost is *enough* of a signal to tell the plant to begin to harden up the tubers.  Here's what Gemini says that the frost is, indeed a 'biological trigger' that redir...

The data suggested it was going to happen.  Even if the forecast didn't show it.  I'm talking about the first frost of the season.  And, despite it looking like it was never going to arrive, it has, indeed arrived.   Was it a 'hard frost'?  I'm not sure.  But, it zapped the coleus.  Which, brings the coleus season to the end for 2026.  Here are a couple of photos showing the frost-bitten coleus skeletons. First up is the Wizard Sun red coleus in the front yard Island Bed .  Below shows the coleus in the mid-bed with the annual Vinca curling up in front:? And, here below is the Talavera Moondust coleus (speckled) in the corner patio bed in our backyard: I p osted a similar photo last year (at the end of October) when last season's coleus was zapped by the frost .   And, just like last year, the coleus shows the most initial frost damage with other things (including most of the dahlias) still green and fleshy.  

Two weeks ago, I p osted an update on the (still small) Ginkgo tree that is growing in our backyard along the southside of the garden .  This is a tree that was 'snapped' in half, but has (seemingly) recovered.  In that post, I included a couple of photos showing the shape and growth of the tree.  With all the foliage camouflaging the tree, it was hard to see the actual size, so I ended up annotating a photo with markup .   Well...just like the Saratoga Ginkgo tree out front, this Ginkgo tree is changing color.  Into a canopy of gold foliage.  Which...now allow for the size and shape of the tree to be EASILY read by the eye.  Here, below, is that same tree, now lit up in yellow leaves: Still not a massive tree, but it continues to grow each season.  Five years in the ground .  Five more until it is meaningful, I would think.  

'Tis the season for Fall color in the garden.   Plenty of it is 'nice' to look at around our garden.  Both in front and back.  Reds, oranges. Yellows.  Even...browns.   Last week, I posted this photo from our back stoop showing the backyard coming alive in fall color.   And, more recently, I posted a photo of the color combo that is happening with the Saratoga Ginkgo and the Little Henry in front .  And, how the Doublefile Viburnums were turning purple .   Like I said...nice.  "Nice" colors.   But, there's another plant in the garden that does something else in Fall.  I'd call it borderline 'shocking'.  When you see it.   That plant that I'm talking about is the Butterscotch Amsonia.  Three of them planted in the [kitchen curved] bed back in 2021 .  I'd say they've been a 'garden win'.  They provide really 'nice' texture all season-long.  Then...come Fall...something else happen...