This has been such a hard summer on the yard, backyard, woods, and flowers.? The worst I’ve ever seen.
The only stuff really healthy in the veggie garden are the collard greens, and the asparagus, preparing for next spring by growing fronds and looking like a green cloud.? Oh, and the marigolds, in the garden to help get rid of bugs – they’re also doing fine.? Even the kale is gone, as well as the kohlrabi, green peas and beans, beets.? Please don’t mention the lettuce.? Maybe there are potatoes – I’ll check this weekend.? In the herb garden, everything is either wildly overgrown or dead.
The 17 flats of impatiens – not a trace remains.? That downy mildew, caused by the support climate change’s temperature increase gives to parasites (insects and fungal) wiped them all out.? The few begonias are those that bravely grew from seed from last year’s plants.? This year’s plantings – not a trace.
The stags’ antlers are covered with velvet, and all seems well with most of the critters.? The squirrels are downright fat.? There are toooo many chipmunks.? Bird-wise, it’s all good.? The hummers are busy chasing each other off the nectar-filled feeders.? All the adult males will look at their little bird watches on September 1 and disappear till next spring.
And I’m going to start heading to the greenhouses again soon, looking for lots of mums, and cold weather / winter veggies to fill up this empty space with.? Here’s hoping for a 6- or 7-month fall!