I’ve been watching what is usually beautiful fall foliage in new jersey that, in some places, is struggling.  It’s still pretty, but the heavy rains and the wind that battered leaves late in August during hurricane Irene, and perhaps the abundance of rain that we have had all summer, seems to be changing the view that we had last year.  Where we are, in the northern most part of the State, and at our home elevation close to 900 ft., we’re pretty much at peak conditions as far as the leaves go, and the colors are rusts, browns and yellows…a bit less red than usual.  We “peaked” a little later than last year  Other parts of NJ in lower lying areas have barely started to change.  If you are looking for places to do some fall foliage peeping in New Jersey, visit the link earlier in this post, and you can see what stages the leaves are at in New Jersey at weather.com.  Keep up with the latest snow condition, too, we want you to be safe.

Preparing them is not hard, but it’s nice to have a nice work area.  I have to settle for my bathroom Porcelain Sink or the stainless steel sink in my kitchen. I’d love to have a workspace with a sink, and know if I wanted one, it could be here in a flash with same day delivery, but am afraid that due to the size of my home, I’ll have to settle for one of my Porcelain Sinks.

To prepare the bulbs, it is important that they be dry during the storage period and be stored in a cool somewhat dry place over the winter, so if you do clean the bulbs off, which isn’t absolutely necessary, do so gently, allow to sit out and dry, then store in a bag or container that breaths. If the bulbs are large enough, an onion bag from the supermarket does just fine if you cut it open just right.

These are my grape hyacinths, they have come up and spread each year faithfully for over 25 years.  A tulip is peeking out in the background.  I know this is a simple grape hyacinth photo, but if you like it and use it somewhere, kindly link back to this post.

Fall begins this week, and we are enjoying cool weather early so it feels like fall.   I am picking the last of some of my vegetables and watching the leaves brown.  I let what was left of my herbs (oregano, mint, basil) bolt (flower), though some of the leaves could be harvested well into fall.  But the bees are delighted.  There are still flowers on my Impatiens, they seem to thrive in this weather until the first freeze.

I have been reading a lot about heirloom plants and must admit that in growing plants in containers on my deck, it has been fun to experiment with vegetables that are hybrids, plants altered so that they are smaller potted varieties.  I’ve enjoyed them, but am looking into adding heirlooms to my vegetables next year.

If heirloom plants were people, they would be able to trace their lineage back to before 1950 and would not have had anyone tampering with them genetically…they would have simply enjoyed the natural process of pollination rather than the controlled environment of hybrids. 

You can gather Heirloom seeds from your flowers or vegetables that you allow to mature and “die” before harvesting and count on them producing plants for you in the coming year.  The flavor of the vegetables is more vibrant and nutritious.  Heirloom plants and flowers are generally larger than hybrids. Everything is convincing me that next spring I will purchase heirloom seeds or starter plants no matter what the cost.  Some put together nice starter kits like the one pictured below with seeds that are heirloom and like to remind us that the seeds contain no GMO’s (genetically modified oganisms). Yes, already dreaming of next years gardens and this years are just finishing.

Not only did we have a difficult Spring, but the Summer is coming to a challenging end.  Fall and winter are on the way, gardens are finishing except for the fall flowers and vegetables.  These are all a loss for some.  We have experienced flooding ourselves, but have been able to protect our home.  We know many who are not as fortunate.  We pray for strength for our neighbors throughout the northeast who are experiencing hardship…healing from the pain of loss…and new beginnings for all of us.

This year I am going to harvest some of the roots as it has spread nicely over the years.  Though you can harvest in the spring before the leaves come, I’m going to wait until fall, after a frost.  I’ve read the same thing about Horseradish as I have about Comfrey…that it’s hard to get rid of as the tiniest piece of root left or dropped will become a new plant, but I’ve never had trouble with either my Comfrey plant or my Horseradish plant.  Perhaps if you have very loose soil, this may be a concern, I have these planted in areas that I don’t cultivate a lot.

This image of the Horseradish Giclee is found, along with many other beautiful herbal plates in “A Curious Herbal”.

After harvesting, I’m going to make my own prepared horseradish. I found a video for you (an me) that shows in great detail how to clean and prepare the root, grind (in a ventilated area…or outside) and prepare your own horseradish. You need white vinegar, sugar and mayo…just watch, you’ll see:

I welcome this season of snow with mixed feelings this year.  Generally, I like snow, but our summer was so hot that there were many many days of being confined to air conditioning…the summer version of “cabin fever” set in, but at least everything was green and pretty.  Now it’s time to get accustomed to a new kind of beauty…and time to buy boots.

The boots I have right now are terribly worn on the outside after many years of wear, and splitting at the seams, so it’s really time for some serious boot shopping. I’m not sure they will be as ferocious sounding as Wolverine Boots, LOL, but they just may be. I’ve been looking at them, and they have a sturdy look for outdoors work and wear, and some look like they would be great for hiking.  As sturdy as they look, they also look like they are made to be very comfortable on the feet from the description. It’s nice to find a site that offers free shipping, and a 30 day money-back guarantee, plus free return shipping…wow. I’m headed back to shop as soon as I finish this post.

So the winter season seems like it is upon us even if it is still fall, and I’m doing my best to be ready…how about you?

Here is a pretty fall photo that I took only a few short weeks ago, if that!  Now all leaves have fallen.

We were challenged this week to write something on Squidoo related to pumpkins.  I wrote on how to make Pumpkin Spice Tea…in fact there is quite a nice compilation of pages on Pumpkins if you visit this link.

Have a safe and Happy Halloween!

I was thinking about that the other day as I looked at this blog and all the posts that have accumulated over the years…and the many more that will be posted in the days to come. I thought about it more while looking out at my struggling gardens because of the unusual heat and dryness we have experienced this year.

Yes, I love gardening, but not the way some do…those who are out there all the time, tending to their plants, making artistic creations out of their gardens. Part of me envies them.

I have to be honest and say that what I love is all that has to do with the outdoors, green…I love green, plants, and all the wildlife, animals, butterflies, insects.

So yes, I like gardening, but enjoy gardens that almost take care of themselves, hence the planting of so many perennials. I like experimenting with container gardening on my deck.

There is a peacefulness that comes while weeding and working in the garden, it’s a time when I, for some reason, find myself remembering things from my childhood, things from my past.

The gardens have struggled this year, but there is much green out there. It’s time to cut back the plants that are just not going to make it, hope that the late blossoms that are coming on some of my vegetables will have time to bear fruit, and begin to think about the things of Fall.

I hope this is a super September for all of you!

I may have a picture of a rose for you in a couple of days…yes, a rose!  I had transplanted a rose bush early in the summer, and it took time for it to become established…for the past couple of weeks, it has had a single red blossom that is beginning to open, in spite of weather going down into the 30′s at night and a few flurries and the touch of snow in my earlier post.  If it can make it through this, it should be a happy, healthy plant when spring returns several months from now…that sounds so far off!

Still, in spite of it all, in spite of seeing the end of the gardening season, then end of warm weather, there is beauty in the colors of fall, the changing of the seasons. Enjoy!