I know, none of this is dramatic or seems terribly noteworthy, but to me these finishing touches are like the missing pieces of an unfinished puzzle, and I feel a real sense of accomplishment in that I've recognized what needs to be done and am now actually doing it. Summer seemed to be about survival, with nothing much in my mind other than watering enough to keep my plants going. Thankfully everything is now in better shape than I'd dared hope even four or five weeks ago, and it's a peaceful feeling to be able to relax and actually think about improvements after being in a holding pattern for so much of the year.

Are any of you having similar experiences? I'd be interested to know what you've been up to, assuming your garden isn't already buried under several inches of snow.

Ingrid

I've recently discovered that Fall is the very best time for planting, as many of the roses etc. are cold tolerant; the summer heat is the real enemy that planting now provides a better start for dealing with. I have been scrambling to plant all of the roses and plants that were on my March agenda. I will be planting Clotilde Soupert along a path next to the driveway, and am also wondering if I will actually add plants to the east side of the front yard; irrigation has not been added, and I am trying to determine if I will have the commitment to go out and water the plants until I can have my gardeners add new irrigation. I do not go outside much when it becomes cold here, but what the plants need, within reason, they tend to get.

A week ago, we had three consecutive days of what seemed to be non-stop rain, which delayed my progress; nonetheless, two days after it subsided, White Pet was planted in hopefully what is its permanent home. Yesterday, we picked up companion plants at a big box store in Ventura County, and purchased a couple of lavender plants that were of a variety I had not seen for sale at my local nurseries. Lavender is one of my favorites for multiple reasons, but once established, I appreciate that it can be fairly drought tolerant. I am still searching for companion plants, and since my husband is such an enabler, I doubt that I will have difficulty convincing him that we should tour the local nurseries of Ventura County today:)

Lynn

Earlier I did spend time studying the pictures I took last April and May of the bulbs so I could decide where to plant the 160 new ones I bought. The pictures help me remember where what is already planted and where there are bare spots that need filling in. I got them all planted out a week or so ago and this year I started planting bulbs out in the new rose bed too. It should look really pretty next spring when they bloom!

Weeding, planting roses that are currently in pots, pruning (not just roses & hydrangeas, but cutting back the rampant ivy & bushes that are eating the paths), pulling out the last hollyhocks which still are making new flowers, helping my DH with the THIRD massive leaf raking - our huge oak tree still has about 20% of its leaves left, but the lawn is covered again. It will take us weeks to get it all "put to bed".

The nice part is that as soon as we are finished (in late Jan or Feb), the fruit trees will begin to bloom, the bulbs will come up, and it will be early Spring. As a matter of fact, I actually have a pot full of paperwhites (yes, outside) which are just bursting into bloom now. My DH dug up an overgrown crowded mess of them in one bed, and I kept about 10% of them and replanted them back in that bed and in some pots. The ones in the bed are coming up, and the ones in one of the pots will all be in full bloom by next weekend -

Jackie

The cala lilies and watsonia are up and enjoying the rain. Oranges on the trees are getting some color and the last of the persimmon leaves are falling-along with a few last persimmons that the crows are enjoying.

And I replanted the veggies that the little bunny munched as fast as they sprouted (now covered in wire baskets so they have chance to grow) A block covers the bunny hole at the neighbors fence.

Me, I have been peeping at my cuttings, planning the next box, moving pots to get a bit more sun but generally staying out of the garden. Instead I am working on building some storage in to the "big garage" and giving the interior a coat of paint.

Lynn, I sent an email via GW with a nursery to visit in Carpinteria.

I'm not planning any moves, but there will definitely be more of the pot ghetto shoehorned between those in the ground. I figure with the increasing heat and aridity, everything stands better chances IN the ground than potted, even if they're stuffed too closely together. Kim

Pam, I hope you do get your pathway in the rambler garden. How wonderful to stroll along there in the spring when everything is in bloom. I can imagine how much more finished that area will look with a bona fide path.

Lynn, for me planting in the fall is also very much the best time, especially now that it seems to get warmer earlier. The baby plants need all the time they can get before the heat gets to them.

rosefolly and Jackie, it seems that you're going to be working pretty hard compared to me. I don't spray and don't have too many weeds in the actual garden area, and my usual pruning time is around the middle to end of January. Fortunately I don't need to prune much since I have so many young plants and most of the rest are teas, chinas and polyanthas. I've found lately that I will prune a rose when it looks overgrown and unattractive, no matter what the time of the year, and the rose generally puts out lots of new growth in response and becomes more shapely.

seil, your bulbs with roses should look lovely next spring. I can hardly wait to see everyone's spring flush, although at the same time I can't believe that we're already talking about the next one. Where did the time go?

Kippy, you always seem busy and I admire and envy your energy. You've accomplished so much in a relatively short period of time. By next spring it will really all come together and we'll need more pictures!

Kim, if your roses are planted close together they should shade and protect each other; this may just work out to your advantage. I'm going the other way, planning on fewer and fewer roses as time goes on, although I doubt that I can live with fewer than 50-60, no matter how large they get. They are what make the garden, no matter what else is planted.

Ingrid