There’s Sumthin’ About These Pumpkins
I grew Rouge Vif D’Etampes (aka: "Cinderella") French heirloom pumpkins the first time both for Halloween and for fall squash dishes (pie!). Here are my notes.
17
10, 2023
9
10, 2023
An October Sunset With a Starship
Snapped a shot of a colorful San Diego sunset last night only to discover later on that there's a starship shaped hole in the clouds.
6
10, 2023
Orb Weaver (Araneus diadematus) in Action
Orb weavers are common garden spiders. The females grow quite large - 2 inches or more across, Males only half that. In the autumn they mate. Then she eats him.
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09, 2023
First Sunrise of Autumn 2023
Unlike last night's cloudy final summer sunset, this morning's first sunrise of fall was clear, crisp, and had just a hint of dew in the field. Autumn is here.
27
09, 2022
He’s Got High Hopes
I ordered a cold beer for a warm autumn afternoon, but before I could get a sip, this ant kamikazed into it. My wife shrugged and said "well, he's ambitious."
9
12, 2021
Feeling Like Fall Finally
Summer took a final bow in late November and quickly exited stage left. Now It's raining & temps are 40° cooler. Time for the first crackling fire of the year.
20
10, 2021
The Greenhouse is All Potential
The greenhouse is empty in summer but in fall all the tender plants migrate back to it. It's dirty, sad now, but this weekend it'll be clean and in full leaf.
20
10, 2020
October Tomatoes
The summer veggie garden is now down to the hot peppers, a few bell peppers, and a bunch of raggedy, but hanging in there, tomato plants. Chief among them is the Costolutos, which took a hard hit about a month ago but rebounded to flower and fruit for a third round in this growing year. A great tomato by any measure, it's interesting that the first bunch back in June were really deeply lobed, but they've gotten progressively smoother since. [keep reading...]
2
10, 2019
Fall Finally! Let’s Get to Work!
I’ve been reading “what to plant for fall” stories since August. In some ways I’m jealous of people who can start their fall garden in late summer, but it’s not an option here in the San Diego county foothills. By August the sun is directly overhead and it hasn’t rained in four months or more. The ground is hot and dry, the air is hotter and drier. All the natives drop their leaves and other plants, even mature, well-watered ones, [keep reading...]
12
10, 2015
Garlic Planting Time
Ordered some hardneck garlic last month from Pinetree Garden Seeds and it's finally here. I figure if I plant it now, right around spring we'll have fresh garlic.