Kaseys Korner

Thanksgiving recap

As always, I had good intentions of posting prior to Thanksgiving but all the preparations left me scrambling and by the end of the day, I had no energy left to blog.  Sorry to leave you all hanging.  A day late, but I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with people you love.

At our house, eleven friends and neighbors gathered with us to celebrate.  I used my pilgrim couple for the table centerpiece around a cornucopia capped off on both sides with crystal candle holders (inherited from my Aunt.)  There is a harvest table runner underneath it all tho I'm not sure it's very visible?

oops.  I hadn't added the candlestick holders in the photo above.  I forgot I took photos at various stages of the table setting process.  Below, excuse the glare, you can see one:

Not the best photo either but in the foreground, are chalkboard pumpkins I found at a local barn sale.  This was my first chance to use them but when I bought them I thought they would be great placecards or as I used them here, dish labels.  Now if I could only learn to write better with chalk!

I was pretty excited to pull out the silver!!

I just started collecting mine a few years ago.  Above are some of my favorite serving pieces.  I LOVE the vegetable server on top!!  The craftsmanship in older silver patterns is phenomenal and unmatched in patterns today (at least in my opinion.)

Silver will dress up anything around it, including the bargain chargers (found at Hobby Lobby) I used around the table.

Once again, not the best photos.  I must have been in a hurry!  Usually I make sure the lighting, etc., is better.

Above:  a better overall view of the table and below, our 24 lb turkey ready for carving.

I got up at 5:00 AM to get it in the oven so we could eat on time!  Those of you who know me know that required supreme effort on my part!

So much food, it felt decadent. 

Including an early preview of Christmas fudge!

A lot to be grateful for this year. 

Scroll down for another thing occupying my time.

Yes, the Christmas decorating has begun...

I felt I needed to get a head start since it's only four weeks away.  Even the paperwhite bulbs I bought three weeks ago took the cue & have started to bloom (I still need to photograph them)  They grew, formed buds and came into bloom so quickly I'll have to buy more if I want some for Christmas.

I guess it's full speed ahead now, like it or not...  I'm not sure I'm ready, are you??

overwintering Dahlia tubers

The temperatures outside this past week have been brutal.  We shattered some records for earliest low temperatures going -14 degrees several nights. 

It's almost surreal to think just a week ago it was still in the 70's & I was out digging dahlia tubers!

Above:  Dahlia 'Honka Surprise'

I usually let the Dahlias get lightly frosted (at least once but hopefully) several times before lifting the tubers from their containers or the ground. 

If the weather cooperates, I temporarily store the freshly dug tubers in the garage while they dry out a bit.

This year, I had to bring them directly into the house because my garage is not insulated and the below zero temperatures would have killed them.

Above:  Dahlia 'Floorinoor'

Once dug, I cut off the blackened foliage an inch or two above the tubers and "tag" them so I know which tuber is which. 

After the tubers have dried, the excess soil can be shaken off & the name of the dahlia can be written directly onto the tubers. 

Some people divide the tubers at this point.  I've had better results waiting until spring so I overwinter mine as a whole.  Whichever method you prefer, I've always read (and been told) to discard the "parent" tuber and keep the new "babies." 

Now that we've dug the tubers, dried them, divided or not, we're ready to store them.  As with most things there are various methods.  I pick a box or other container, add some slightly moistened peat to the bottom, nestle the tubers into the peat then cover with more peat.  Some people prefer shredded newspaper to peat.  My Mom puts them in a paper bag in her refrigerator!

Whatever you decide, now comes the trickiest part of getting them thru the winter ~ making sure they stay moist enough to survive but aren't overly wet where they'll rot.  

They also need to be in a cool (above freezing) place, preferrably between 40 - 50 degrees, which for me is my unfinished basement. 

After they're placed there, check on them about once a month to make sure they aren't drying out (shriveling up) or rotting.  If your storage material is not overly wet to start with, drying out should be more of a problem than rotting.  Spritz the surrounding peat (or other packing material) with water and you're good for another month.  If one of your tubers does happen to be rotting, you should cut the rotten part off so you can save what's left & prevent the rot from spreading.

Hopefully by March or April, they've all survived and are ready to be potted up again for another season of enjoyment. 

Meanwhile back to current reality, there was a beautiful Red Fox Squirrel frequenting the garden during the deep freeze this past week.

He/she was polite enough to pose atop the arbor.

Pretty picturesque framed amidst the rose hips.

A perfect complement to his coat!

I imagine creatures of every form will be happier this week as temperatures are supposed to moderate. 

Still below "average" but after last week, even the smallest reprieve will be greatly appreciated...

 

A fond Adieu to Fall

It's been a wonderful one.

Above:  Bur Oak towering over front garden & patio area.

Before you chastise me, I DO realize the calendar still says "fall" but our temperatures are dropping into single digits with snow this week.  That is winter territory!!!!

It will effectively finish off all the spectacular foliage and late season blooms we've enjoyed to date.

Above:  Dogwood foliage & birdhouse

With all the color gone, fall is over in my book. 

Even tho it's been a longer, warmer one than "normal" (whatever normal is anymore), it's ALWAYS TOUGH to say goodbye.

I spent the weekend dragging pots and plants into my garage plus an assortment of other winter prep chores.   I should know better than to save everything for the last minute, my body is protesting today.  It was just all so beautiful, I couldn't bear to part with any of it prematurely.

Of course I couldn't miss the opportunity to take the camera around the garden one last time. 

There are hardy plants still in bloom.

Like the monkshood above and Astrantia major 'Ruby Wedding' below:

It's not typical for Astrantia to be blooming now, especially as magnificently as it does in early summer. 

I have the rabbits to thank for that.  It's another perennial (like the toad lilies) they chewed to the ground which stimulated new growth (and the blooms you see pictured here) 

Above:  Bacopa

Every year a few annuals surprise me with their hardiness.  The white bacopa above was one of those this year.  It's blooming this morning even as the snow sets in.

Above:  'Cherry Star' Calibrachoa

I learned a few years ago how tough Calibrachoas are ~ it takes a really hard frost to knock them out.  Scaevola & Lantana are also in that category even tho I didn't photograph them. 

When you live in a harsh climate, cold hardiness is a definite consideration when spring plant selection begins.  At least it is for me.  I like the garden season to be extended for as long as possible!

Above:  Northern Flicker on birdbath

With the garden chores completed, we're moving on to one of our few enjoyable winter activities ~ bird watching.

It's an activity that interests every member of the family but most especially Ivory!

She spent the morning (with me) watching Blue Jays.

They are bold, brazen even, but very entertaining ~ not at all bothered by our presence whether we're inside or out.

I know they aren't the nicest birds in the garden but I have to love them for bringing color to what will very shortly be a drab winter landscape.

Wrapping up, I concede it was a pretty good year in the garden despite all the personal challenges my family faced.  For me, the therapeutic benefits of nature always trump the labor.  The garden imparts such peace, strength & joy, I can't imagine living life without it.  That saying "closer to God in the garden" has never had more meaning.  It was certainly difficult to accomplish projects this year or even at times "maintain" but we survived.   Some years that is feat enough.  I am grateful for all the times I was on the verge of feeling defeated and it lifted me up.  Having said that, I am fervently hoping the next gardening season is FAR less stressful.

I have a few more garden posts planned but then I guess it's full speed ahead to the holidays!  If you are lucky enough to still have fall in your area, enjoy it now for us too.  :)

 

 

 

 

 

Fall lingers on

Portion of the back garden ~ photo taken today:

still a LOT of green (especially for here!)  The Hawthorne tree (upper right side of photo) hasn't even turned yet, let alone dropped any leaves.

The berries are gloriously beautiful and will remain so long after the leaves shed.

Supertunia 'bubblegum' truly seems "super."  Scraggly but nevertheless, persisting in bloom.

Behind (and to the left) of the garden chair ~ notice that splash of yellow?

It's the fabulous fall foliage of Solomon's Seal ~ something we often miss when fall arrives early.

Turning toward the house, a view down the side garden:

The touch of red compliments of the little Japanese Maple but it's the Oakleaf Hydrangea that's really the star of the border.

Above: a month or so earlier.

The leaves enormous this year.

and barely starting to turn. 

It's dominate presence oddly the perfect foil to the dainty yellow waxbells (Kirengeshoma palmata)

The waxbells finished blooming a while ago.

But not before putting on their best display ever.

The back patio is one spot that looks the season.

Waiting still (!!!!) for one garden vine to bloom ~ the Cup and Saucer (Cobaea scandens:)

Loaded with buds but none close to maturity.  Sadly, I fear this will not be it's year...

My neighbors Clematis 'Jackmanii superba' faring much better, blooming even now:

So much abundance, I'm feeling extremely blessed.   Least I falter tho, one of my other neighbors has this beautiful porch display to get me back on track:

Now there is some truth on a chalkboard!