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This is good point to let you know that all the rain and snow melt that hits the roof of our house is funneled from the downspouts to the goldfish pond, so the pond gets a fresh water source and when it gets filled it overflows to the orchard to water the trees and feed the trees from the fish waste nutrients. As an organic and a green family it is a easy way of creating some great fruit. One of the great things I did when we bought our house is that each year at Christmas we bought a Balled and Bur lapped Evergreen Tree, brought it in for a week decorated it and then planted on Christmas Day. We did this ever year and landscaped our quarter acre and also created a wind break for winter keep our house warmer, made our yard aesthetically appealing and to save energy. The Last couple of years we harvested Red Cedar trees from our yard that have sprouted in our yard because the neighbor has Red Cedar that floats seeds through out the yard and I let some of them grow in areas with no impact to use as our Christmas trees when they got to Christmas Tree size. Very nice trees and the smell is great.

I encourage you to feed your local birds and the migrating birds in the spring as they will eat bugs that are coming out in the spring to feed their young as they nest or stop off to their ultimate nesting area. This will help in keeping insect populations to a more manageable level without using pesticides. We planted a couple of types of Milkweed to help the Monarchs and since the first year each year we get Monarchs stopping off . Please plant Milkweed, you will be richly rewarded.

Ponds attract Firefly's (Lightning Bugs) which need our help which are great for the garden!!!

Please note we are 1 mile from the Wisconsin Border and mile and half from the lake front. But this is not always bad, as in Summer we often have more even summer temps and more precipitation do to the lake. Our temps may be 10 to 20 degrees different than 10 miles Inland benefiting us Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall.

We got a dusting of snow maybe an inch. Seed catalogues keep coming in, good distraction.

It has been the coldest streak in 30 years, hopefully it won't go any lower than it has as it will threaten the buds on the fruit trees. The high for sunday 2 below. Not much to do except to peruse the seed catalogues, about 20 have arrived. We got some snow but the weather forecasters have got it wrong 3 times in the row predicting 6-10 inches of snow each time. They pretty much suck at their job, very little snow cover for this cold.

I planted Peas, Lettuce and Cauliflower in the greenhouse as the weather has been very mild. The seeds will germinate when the greenhouse gets warm enough, around 60 degrees, after that the low temps will not hurt the plants. Really nice weather for Feb.. Raked the front yard.

Ordered some the seeds for spring which includes some new seed Potatoes and Flowers my wife wanted to grow from seed. Still above normal temps. Mulched the rest of leaves into the garden. Did a little tree trimming.

An almost normal Feb.. week for temp and no snow. Got some of my seeds in the mail this week. All the leaves are mulched in the yard now. Set up some trays with soil for seed starting to plant seeds in the greenhouse. Need to do at least 6 more trays. No sign of seeds braking ground yet in the green house. Moss and Lichens turning green.

It snowed but has already melted. The sun is bringing up the temperature of the greenhouse to 60' s the seeds should germinate soon and come up. Put 6 more trays with soil in the green house.They will be used when temps in the green house even off more in mid March. Bought some more Flower seeds to try this year. We try to stay with the Purple theme as it is my wife's favorite color. No sign of spring flowers in ground yet. Strawberry plants are up.

It has been warm again so I rototilled part of the garden to plant Onions and between the rows I broadcasted Turnips, Rutabaga and Carrots. I planted Spinach, Radish and Turnips in the Raised beds. In the Green House I planted Cucumbers, Pumpkin and Lettuce. Also Flowers I planted in the Green House were Sweet Pea and Pansies. Did some more tree trimming. Peas, Lettuce and Cauliflower are up in Green House and growing. Tulips and Purple Globe Alliums are up by the house. Also put together a Stumpier, basically a Tree Stump with big tree logs fastened around to make a hide and home for a variety of wildlife by the pond.

Planted Sugar Snap Peas all over the yard in containers and Greenhouse. Planted a few more Asparagus plants. Planted a few Black Lilies by the Barrow garden. The buds on all the Fruit trees are growing bigger, this warm weather. We don't want them to come out too soon as they could get frozen yet in a temp. dive. Planted some more Flower seeds in the Greenhouse. So far Robin and Dove nests in the yard. Cleaned out the 2 bird baths. Did some more tree trimming. Daffodils, Tulips and Alliums up around the flower beds. Started digging the hole for this years "Christmas Tree" we delayed as it never really got cold enough to set it in the ground. So this spring we will plant it. Onions already popping up. The Cactus "IL's local cactus found along Lake Michigan" is responding to the Sun by starting to lift up as it was laying down all winter. The Cedar tree that is growing out of a tree stump is well and doing fine. The goose berry plants are starting to flower. Bought some Rain Garden Flower mix to try. Peas, Lettuce and Cauliflower up and growing in the Greenhouse. Also Bought a Bat "Box" Home to put on the garage to attract Bats, great insect eaters.

In helping in insect control this year I installed the the Bat Home (See Video below). Yes, we are inviting Bats to live in our yard to help control insects. Next, I finally planted our Christmas tree in same area as a lost White spruce, this one a Norway spruce (see video). Also on video installed a Stumpier, where wildlife can come and live by the pond and increase bio diversity. The Green House is now alive with Peas, Spinach, Cauliflower and Flower starts (see Video). The Barrel Garden and by the house are Flowers are coming up and the Cactus is begriming to come up off the ground toward the Sun (see Video). Onions just barely poking out of the ground. Did some more tree trimming. Planted some more Lily bulbs.

It snowed the biggest all winter, 6 inches but it is almost completely melted 3 days later. The weather prediction was right first time this year. I planted a second Hickory nut tree today for better production results. I planted some more Black Lilies in the Barrel garden. I also planted a 6 pack mix of Hostas in the Rain/Rock garden. All the Spring Flowers are peaking up out of the ground. The Onions also showing in numbers. The Snow actually is welcome as it melts in ground slowly unlike some Spring flooding Rains. The Pond filled up with this 6 inch snow. The Green House plants were not effected at all with the cold days as the sun was out on most days. I raked up the dead branches the Snow brought down.

More Onions coming up. Daffodils are starting to bloom. Tulips and Crocus are up. Planted some more flowers for rain garden, Crocus, Purple Cone flower and Ixia. Flowers coming up in the Green house. Put up another Bat House on the garage. I moved a Fancy Crabapple that was a creation of a root going rogue from our Fancy Weeping Crabapple and creating a new tree. We got some rain, also planted the Gladiola bulbs saved from last fall into a planter on the porch. All kinds of Flowers coming up in the Barrel garden, can't remember all I planted. Allot of the fruit trees blossoms are puffing up. The Daffodils in back yard starting to bloom. The Peas in the Green house are starting to climb. Signs of life in one raised bed and Strawberry plants getting bigger.

Well we had a few snow flurries and has been colder but it is good for fruit trees as it has slowed them down and won't most likely bloom premature. The Onions have stalled too. The Greenhouse has kept on going as the Sun came with cold. In the greenhouse the Peas, Spinach and Cauliflower are getting bigger. We have Flowers breaking ground on all the trays in the greenhouse. Did a little trimming of trees. Some flowers are breaking ground in the rain/rock garden. Planted Hostas in front yard. Planted saved flower seeds in Rain/Rock garden. Put 2 new Containers on the Porch as others disintegrated, with Gladiolas bulbs.

It has been a warm week, all the spring Flowers are Blooming. The Magnolia is Blooming. The Onions are really starting to grow. Peas,Lettuce and Cauliflower all doing good in the Greenhouse. Flowers planted by seed in trays in the Greenhouse are coming up. I Bought the Traditional Purple Pansies and planted them in recycled hanging baskets around the yard. Peas planted in containers around the yard are coming up. Put my Wife's Lighthouse in the Rock/Rain garden. Also put a new Birdbath in the Rock/Rain garden. Planted some more Hostas in front yard and ones in the Rock/Rain garden are breaking ground. The Cactus is starting to lift a couple more of it's arms. The Apricot trees as usual are Blooming first. The Peach trees going be second but Pears are coming on strong with this warm weather. The Purple Globe Flowers are now starting to grow fast. Threw in some prairie flower seeds in the Rock/ Rain garden. The Small Weeping Crabapple tree that came off the original tree survived the moving and the disconnecting of it from the mother tree. The Peach tree (off shoot) that is growing at the foot of our first Peach tree is thriving. This makes 3 Peach trees (2 by Peach Pit, third yet to be determined) that will replace the 2 that have died after a good life. Planted Potatoes in the 2 Big planters on the porch plus variety of flower seeds like Sunflowers.

Sunny and cold most of the week but the Greenhouse plants are benefiting from the sun, most of the Flower seeds have sprouted and also the the Tomato plants. Only thing we are waiting on is Peppers to break ground. The Veggie seeds I planted among the Onions have broke ground too. The Pear trees are Blooming now and the Peach trees will be next. The Barrel garden has taken off. The Rock/Rain has taken off too. Some of newly planted Hostas have come up. The Peony in the Rock/Rain Garden is up and growing fast. Planted an Purple Iris in the Rock/Rain garden. Tulips about to bloom. Made a couple Mason Bee Boxes, put them on the back of 2 tree stumps. Put up a second Bat Box. Peas in Greenhouse a foot tall already. Rototilled the second third part of the the garden. Planted a Forsythia by the Rock/Rain garden. The Peach trees are not blooming this year, the cold wet rain for 4 days and cold nights dropped a allot of blossoms.

Lots of sun this week, started to pot up tomato seedlings, did about 70 of the tallest. There is probably 150 more to do as they get bigger. I will give away and sell these when they get 5 plus inches tall. The Red Bud in the back yard is in bloom. The Crab Apples are already in bloom and the Apple trees are blooming, a little early. Planted the Purple vegee theme in the Rain/Rock garden, which includes Purple Cauliflower, Kale, Cabbage, Lettuce and Eggplant. Things are coming up all over with the 3 warm days, some I forgot I planted. The Peas in the Greenhouse 2 feet tall. Got 8 trays of flowers about 2 inches. The Cherry trees in bloom. We got more rain and it cooled down. Onions are about 6 inches tall and some of the seeds I planted in the Onion rows are coming up. With the 3 warm days the Rock/Rain garden and Barrel garden burst into life. The Japanese Maple is coming to life. The Peppers need a few more really sunny hot days to get the seeds to grow.

The yard is in Bloom. Transferred Tomato seedlings into individual cell containers so far 100 plus. Went to a Nursery to pick out this years find in Tomato so I can save the seed. This year 4 different type of Purple to Black Tomato's and Orange Stripey. I planted them in the containers on south side of the house where the micro climate gives them a 3 week head start. The big containers on the porch are brand new and I am trying everything, so far Potatoes, Pumpkin, Sunflowers and Marigold are up. The Rock/Rain and Barrel garden exploded, things I can't remember planting are coming up. Radish is one of the vegees I identified among the Onions coming up. The evergreen trees are budding out. The Peas in the Greenhouse are Flowering. Outside everywhere I planted Peas they are up, a great go to vegee to grow. We lost our First (planted) Peach tree (20 yrs old) but it has a sprout and we will help it along, probably a clone although it could be from stone. The Apple trees except one bloomed and it is the one with 5 grafted varieties of Apple. Few or no Peaches because the buds sat in cold wet rain on and off for 5 days, it ia all about timing and it was bad for Peaches. All the Flower seedlings in the Greenhouse seem to be doing very good. Planted a Black Berry (Apache) this weekend, got 2 behind the garage.

It has been warm and the greenhouse has burst into life as the Tomato, Pepper, and Flower plants have really taken off. The Rock/Rain and Barrel Garden are really growing fast as the Tulips fade. The two big containers on the porch have sprung to life as Potatoes, Pumpkin and Sunflowers have come up. All the Blossoms are gone now to see what fruit we will get. Little or no Peaches as the Buds and Blossoms sat in cold wet days and fell off. Once again all about timing and what nature brings. We will wait and see with other fruit trees as what we get as the they came out a few days later and did survive. Green Onions are at picking size also for Radish. The Lettuce is just about ready in the greenhouse. The Evergreens are budding out as is the Christmas Tree. The Rock/Rain garden has a new feature the Purple Veggie planting, all veggies Purple. Planted Cauliflower and Kalirabi in main garden. The Cactus and Globe Flowers are doing well. Everything is coming up Peas as the ones in the greenhouse have flowers on them. The Tomato plants in the containers on south side of the house took off as one plant has flowers on it (take advantage of micro climates). The Fruit tree I let grow from bird planted, set out a few Blossoms this year which were White as opposed of pink/purple suggesting Apple but may be a Crabapple but fun to wait and see.

It has been a warm and sunny week and the green house plants are thriving except the Peppers are behind because the sunny days have not come with enough regular consistency to keep the greenhouse hot enough to germinate and grow Peppers fast. They will catch up as I grow my Peppers in the green house only in containers. Green Onions doing good. I have Turnips and Carrots in with Onions coming up. The Peas and Lettuce are ready to eat now. The Globe Flowers around the barrel are blooming. In the planters on the porch Potato plants ar up and doing good. Also a couple of Pumpkin plants and Sunflower seedlings. The Gladiolas also coming up. They are big planters so I threw in allot of things to have some fun on porch. The Rock/Rain garden doing well too. I planted allot of things so it is fun to see what does good. The Peony again after 22 years is back up and growing. I planted the Purple version of vegees in the Rock/Rain garden as if they were flowers to accent so will be interesting too. So far most of the new Hostas have come up. There are things I can't identify yet as I haven't grown them before. Around the 1st of June I will plant out all the greenhouse flowers to fill spots. Also will plant out Tomato plants as they like warm ground and will be stunted for a while if put into too cool of ground. I brought our indoor Fig tree ,the outdoor one is just starting to grow. The Xmas has new growth, good sign of another success in tree for our Beautiful wind break. The tree the birds planted it had flowers on it and it looks like little Apples. I will plant Corn and Beans in the garden this Holiday weekend. The Milkweed is up in the tub and I planted Swamp Milkweed in the Rock/Rain garden I got from a nursery. I planted Chives and Garlic in with the Strawberry plants (doing great) to see if that would detour them or mask the smell of Strawberries so we get eat some of them. Will have many Tomatoes plants again this year at least 150.

We are eating Peas right out the greenhouse as the young tender Romaine Lettuce and Green Onions from the garden. There are Strawberries on the the plants. Planted Corn, Beans,Winter Squash, Summer Squash and Cucumbers in the Garden. Just right timing 2 different rains and keeps Squirrels at bay for awhile maybe long enough to keep the corn safe enough to sprout. Moved some off shoot Ferns from back yard to Rock/Rain garden. Split some Hostas in back yard to move to front yard Rain/ Rock garden. The Xmas tree is doing good new shoots. The Purple Iris is blooming . I moved a Purple Columbine from the ally to the Rock/Rain garden. Putting out some of the Flowers from greenhouse to the Barrel and Rock/Rain garden.The Cactus is lifting up to face the sun. The Barrel has disappeared as the Lilies take over. The Rock/Rain garden is almost ready to start blooming. The Summer Flowers just establishing themselves another month to bloom. We have Gooseberries and it looks like another bumper crop of Raspberries. We have Apples on 3 of the Apple trees. The Apple tree with 4 types of Apples grafted on has not bloomed yet, maybe next year. The Micro climate container Tomato plants cranking along. If it feels like I have been gardening a long time already this spring it is because a greenhouse lets you do so much more, plus great bulb planning and planting last fall and spring.

The Potatoes in the containers are growing great as is the Gladiolas with them. Planted about 35 Tomato plants in the garden and probably another 20 more. Planted my wife's Sweet Peas Flowers and Marigolds. Also planted the Rain garden seeds after cold treated them for 6 weeks. Did some dividing of hostas to put under our Red Cedar trees. It is interesting what flowers are coming up are a surprise in some cases it was lets grow this and lost track but that's ok. Eating Peas, Lettuce and Onions so far. Strawberries, Gooseberries and Raspberries All forming. The Rain/Rock garden is on its way to look great. The Barrel in the Barrel is out of sight so another great growing progress.

The Corn, Beans, Peas are up in the Garden, no sign of the Squash or Cucumbers. Planted Tomato plants in the Greenhouse where the Peas were in the containers. Harvested all the Peas and planted the Tomatoes. Planted another 20 Tomato plants in the Garden and 6 in a Raised Bed. The Rain Garden and Barrel Garden are in the next phase of going from spring to summer flowers. The wild Rose bushes are blooming where as the reg. red rose is still leafing out. Transplanted some hostas to go under the Cedar trees to get a good mix of Hostas.. Milkweed is doing real good and the Yellow flowers that bloom at nite for the Moths are doing real good. The Joe Pye Weed has grown over nite at 4 ft. already. We have Pears, Cherries, Apples., Gooseberries, Raspberries and Mulberries so far growing. The Onions are getting big as is the Romaine lettuce. All the Evergreens have had a good Spring with much consistent rain. We have Walnuts, lets hope they make it to the ground before the Squirrels take them away. The Potatoes in the containers on the porch are better than ever in the ground but these are big containers. Planted a bunch more of the Wife's flowers still have about 2 trays yet to plant. Spotted a couple of Blue Jays probably coming for the Cherries I imagine. The Strawberries don't even get all red before they are eaten by the resident wildlife. Having the Tree guys to come in to do a little tree trimming and remove the dead Peach tree, lasted 21 years.

Your normal June week, Corn, Beans, Peas and now Squash but no sign of Cucumbers. Planted some more Tomato plants in garden and more in large pots. Want to get the largest variety of Tomato's from the seeds I saved and maybe something new. The Rock/Rain and the Barrel gardens are in between Spring and Summer flower Bloom but we still have flowers in Bloom, The Spring planting of Peas are done, too hot in the Green house, now the containers in the Green house are now transitioned to Tomato plants. The Peppers are just big enough to go into individual containers and I will keep them in the Greenhouse for best results. Onions still growing as is the Lettuce. Looks like we will have Apples this year.The Pears look like a good crop this year again as is the Raspberries. We have Walnuts, Goose Berries and Mulberries. The local wild life again seems to ignore the smell of Chives and Garlic masking the Strawberries smell and ate the first crop before they were ripe. Moved some Ferns to the Rock/ Rain garden from the back yard. Cherries are doing OK. Looks like no Apricots the cold, wet did in the blooms just like the Peaches. The Potatoes plants in the containers are biggest I ever grew, hope that means lots of Potatoes.The in ground Fig tree is making a comeback. The Fig tree from inside is re leafing and has Figs. The Cactus is responding to the Sun. The Purple vegee section of the Rock/Rain garden is slowly taking hold but I think the Rabbits ate the Celery, it may come back. Most of the Hostas a I planed under the Red Cedar trees are doing well. It is going to be interesting in Flower plantings as I did write them down and like painting as me being an Artist just experiment and see how good you do.

We got some much needed rain. Picked some Raspberries today a sandwich bag full, it is just the start of picking, last about 2 weeks. Planted some more Tomato plants as I harvest Green Onions for meals. The Mulberries are hitting their stride and we eat as they on the tree.We have Tomato's on our container plants on south facing micro climate. We have Apples on 2 trees. We have Pears on 3 trees.We Cherries on 2 trees. We now have Grapes. Gooseberries, not read yet. Our Corn plants doing good with hot weather. The cold weather plants just stopped growing in this early heat .Pepper plants are now doing good. All the Peas in the greenhouse have been harvested and replaced with Tomato plants. The Romaine Lettuce has bolted but our Turtle Daisy likes her greens. The Milkweed is blooming as is the Lilies. The flowers just starting to bloom. We have some Crabapples, it is off year. Still don't what some the flowers are going to be. We got Marigolds, Sweet Peas and Daisies.

We have Peppers in the green house. We have Tomatoes on the container plants on south side of the house. Finding a micro climate place in your space is a plus even without a green house. The barrel garden is in its summer sp lender and we can't see the barrel now. The Rock/Rain is starting its Summer phase. Its in its White phase leaving the Purples behind. Had the tree man do some pruning as I am a little too old to be climbing trees. The Tomato plants in the garden are growing well, soon to start staking them.The corn is doing good.The Butterfly garden is doing great .Walnuts getting big. Christmas tree doing well but a Red Bud seems to be struggling. Once again Flowers popping up and I am saying, Oh, that's where I planted them. I definably like the free spirit approach of flower gardens. As long as Flowers are growing my wife doesn't care. The Hostas I planted under the Cedar trees are doing OK. Looks like the year of the Pear. Cherries are picking time. Mulberries are truly a treat as I eat my fill as I check the yard. Maybe Apples this year. Picked a couple of zip loc sandwich bags of Raspberries. Pulled up some more Onions and replaced with Tomato plants. I am anxious to see what the saved Tomato seeds produce. My wife Raspberry hand pies. We still have Frozen Rhubarb, Raspberries and Gooseberries and I am eating the last of the Peaches we froze last year as we went thru 24 quart of Pears since mid Oct.

We got some rain, good for July. We have Tomatoes in the garden. The Corn is knee high. Dug up some more Onions and replaced with some more Tomato plants, that should be about 60 plants and about 20 to plant. They are all free from saved seeds and all the Tomatoes they produced free. If one tomato is produced from each plant that is 60 plus Tomatoes free. Just between the Onions and Tomatoes you save very much. The Raspberries are at the end but picked about 8 sandwich bags of Raspberries. The hand pies are great my wife makes.The Walnuts are not ready yet. The Grapes are green yet, turn purple when getting ready to eat. The Potatoes in the containers on the are still growing. We have some more Peppers in the Greenhouse. The Milkweed have brought many Monarchs. The Joe Pye will be blooming shortly. The Rock/Rain garden is going to hot summer phase Purple Cone Flower, Black Eye Susan and the Purple Alliums. The Cherries are being shared by birds and us. The year of the Pear is still going strong. The experiment with Purple veggies in the Rain/Rock garden are doing OK.

We a couple of good rains. Picked the rest of the Raspberries and picked the Goose Berries. Had Tomatoes for Salad off the container Tomatoes. Dug up some more Onions and planted some more Tomato plants, all of them free grown from seed. The Walnuts are being eaten by Squirrels in the tree before they can fall and be ripe. We have 2 full trees of Pears. Cherries we shared with the birds. I am still grazing on the Mulberries.The Black Lilies are blooming. Purple Coneflowers and Black Eyed Susan's are blooming. The plugs to grow Mushrooms were a complete filmier, I think because the non investment of time or water to get them started. The Purple Vegee spot in the Rock/Rain garden has been a slow go. Completely switched over the containers in Green house from Lettuce to Tomato plants. I have Peppers on the Pepper plants. I have Apples on 2 trees and Crabapples. The Barrel and Rock/ Rain gardens doing well. The Milkweed and Joe Pye Weed are doing real well and Butterflies showing up regularly. Harvested the Potatoes, nothing better than new Potatoes. The Gladiolas sending their flower spikes up. There is a few Blackberries on the plants. There are Tomato's on a few plants in the garden.

We had some Tomato's and dug up the Potatoes from the containers on the front porch and they are great tasting, nothing better than new Potatoes. Planted more Tomato plants in the containers. The Gladiolas are starting to bloom as the Morning Glories and Black Eyed Susan. Dug up some more Onions and planted more Tomato plants we have Tomatoes in the garden. The Walnuts were eaten in tree by the Squirrels and ones that fell to the ground were not ripe. Still grazing on the Mulberries. The Squirrels have been seen carrying off a Pear. The Butterflies are showing up again for the Milk Weed and Joe Pye Weed. Picked some Peppers in the Greenhouse. All the containers in the Greenhouse are all growing Tomato's now. The Purple Globe flowers are blooming. The Cactus is raising up toward the sun. The Black Lilies are blooming as is the Red Trillium. The Cherries are all done, the Blue Jays family once again came and helped us eat them. The Christmas Tree is doing real well.

Another normal July week a little rain and Hot but heat brings Tomatoes and Peppers which are going to be used in Tacos and BLT's. The Grapes are still green yet, turn purple when ready to eat. There are few Black Berries still red yet. Corn is about 3 ft. high. Dug up some more Onions and planted a few more Tomato plants. The Butterfly gardens blooming with 2 types of Milkweed and Joe Pye Weed plus Purple Cone Flowers and Black Eyed Susan's. The Purple Veggie garden in the Rock/Rain garden just not doing a whole lot. It's not dyeing but not really growing except Celery.The Gladiolas are starting to bloom. We finished off the the Potatoes we grew on the front porch container, they were superb flavor. I tossed allot of seed in the Rock/Rain garden so I am ready to see what shows up in the next year. We have a few Apples and been sampling the ones that fall off the trees. Not ripe but I love sour apples reminds when I was a kid eating the early drop Apples. Plus my mother made Apple Pie out of the ones with some size. I do have Tomato plants everywhere but free tomato's will not be wasted as my wife is Italian. The end of the Mulberries is near.

We got some rain but not enough to really keep plants thriving. There is the Bartlett pear tree that is dropping many Pears not ripe. Planted some more Tomato plants. Pretty much every where Tomato plants but they are free and even one Tomato on each plant helps our BLT's and Taco making. The Pepper and Tomato plants in the green house are doing well. The Rock/Rain is in its glory. The Barrel garden is winding down. The Zinnias are in their peak. The Christmas tree is doing well. Grapes are still green. Planted a few more Tomato plants in the garden. There is Apples dropping but big enough to make Apple pie. Got a few more ripe Tomato's. Did a little tree trimming. The Milkweed making pods and Joe Pye Weed in full bloom with many Bees and Butterflies. A few Sun Flowers blooming. We got Pinks and Zinnias blooming.

We had some rain not enough to help. Dug up some more Onions and planted a few more Tomato plants. A few more ripe Tomatoes to keep us in BLT's and Tacos. The Apple tree is dropping a bunch of imperfect Apples but as my mother taught us these Apples make great Apple pies, not sweet picking ready but great for making Pie. We made one full Apple pie and 4 hand pies like Micky D's. Did a quick pickle on the Peppers I picked. The Gladiolas are past their prime. The Rose seems to be struggling. The Rock/Rain has been taken over by Black Eyed Susan's and Purple Cone flowers. Still no real change in the Purple veggies in the Rock/Rain garden but the Celery is growing. The Grapes haven't turned Purple yet or has the Black Berries turn Black. Something made Bartlett Pear tree drop all its Pears early, have to check in to it. The Kieffer Pear is just fine, many Pears. Most of the Hostas have made it. The bulbs I put in the containers by the Rock/Rain garden have this vining plant with Red flowers don't recall what they are but doing real well. The Kali rabbi is growing real slow. Raccoons already knocking down the Corn to eat the cobs. Eating and sampling the Apples and Crabapples as I did as a kid. The Bees and Butterflies are still showing up for the Milk Weed and Joe Pye Weed.

We got some rain not enough to get things growing again. Got some more apples off the ground to make some more pie. We finished off the first one. Picked some more Tomatoes. Did a little tree trimming. The Rock/Rain doing great. Milkweed producing pods. Joe Pye Weed in full bloom.We had a small burst of Mulberries. The Grapes are just starting to turn Purple.

We have had little rain , the Tomatoes have stopped growing. Had to water them just to keep them alive. Gathered up more apples and peeled and have frozen them. Frogs have showed up at the Pond, so you know it is dry. Grapes are turning purple. Picked a few Tomatoes. Getting more Peppers in the Greenhouse. Ever thing has stopped growing.The Crabapples are almost eating time. Did a little more tree trimming. The Flowers in the Rock/ Rain garden impressive. The Barrel garden is done. The Joe Pye Weed back yard is as high as 6 feet tall. Had to water the Christmas Tree. The Fig trees in ground and in container are doing well in this dry heat. The Black Berries turning Black. Milkweed Pods big this year.

No rain so I have to water to keep the Tomato plants alive. Still getting Tomatoes enough to eat reg. but none to freeze. We have Peppers in greenhouse. The flowers that are really growing well are the Zinnias almost 3 ft tall with big flowers. Dug up some more Onions and planted a few more Tomato plants in garden, it is just about all Tomato plants now. It is real dry.The dropped Apples where picked up and cut up and frozen. Corn was knocked down and eaten by Raccoons even before fully formed. The Kiefer Pears doing well and boat load of them on the tree. They won't be ready until Oct. Looks like the birds got the few Black Berries.

No real rain yet so I had to water the Tomato plants. Still getting a steady amount for eating reg. but not any real quantities to freeze. It's a race to see who gets more Grapes us or the birds as they eat as one ripens we wait for the bunch to be ripe. Have some more Peppers growing in the greenhouse. The barrel garden has pretty much dried up. I am spreading Milkweed seeds all over the yard. Hopefully some will be in perfect conditions for growing. Did some more tree pruning. The flowers I planted the containers in the Rain/Rock garden are doing well.cant remember the name. The rest of the Rock/Rain garden is winding down. We have an Oak tree started by a Squirrel and has survived the second year. The last of the Apples were cut up and frozen, makes 4 freezer bags of Apples.

Still no rain of any significance. Tomato's are still ripening but I just water to keep the plants alive. Did some tree trimming. With no rain everything has stopped growing . Peppers in greenhouse. Starting to clean up the yard, flower beds. Barrel and Rock/Rain gardens just stopped and fading fast. The Kieffer Pears are the last and won't be ready until Oct with a couple of frosts to sweeten them up. Milkweed Pods are popping open.

We finally got some significant rain in 5 weeks. The only thing in the garden are Tomato plants just producing enough to eat when wanted.The Kieffer Pears are getting big, almost ready, they need a couple of frosts to sweeten them up. We got some more Peppers in the Green house, will fast pickle them. Did some tree trimming. Leaves are starting to fall because it is so dry, even it was in the 80's all week. The Zinnias love this weather. The Barrel garden is done , everything faded away. The Rock/Rain garden is at it's end going into hibernation, with the dry 5 weeks. Starting to clean up yard of fading plants and flowers. With this rain it will propel Tomato plants into Oct. Bought a few Tulip bulbs.

We got more rain so ground is getting a little more workable. We had high winds from the East Coast hurricane and blew down the loose Pears on the tree. So I canned 7 quarts of Pears. Allot more Pears on the tree yet. Picked some more Peppers out of the green house. Bought some fall bulbs to plant. Still getting enough Tomatoes to satisfy us. Did some more tree trimming. The leaves are falling even though it feels like summer. With the rain, Trilliums bloomed again. Clean up of the yard begins in a big way. The Barrel garden is almost done and collecting flower seeds and Milkweed seeds. The Rock/ Rain garden still looking OK but fading fast. Saw few Monarchs flying through.

We froze some of our Tomatoes, mostly Cherry.The Christmas tree is doing well, have to water regularly with no rain. Picked a few Peppers and Tomatoes from our Greenhouse. Did some more tree trimming. No rain again, no mowing the lawn. Collected a whole bunch of Flower seeds. I will cast them out in to Rain/Rock garden. The wind blew down some more Pears down and I will process them to be canned. Still many Pears on tree, it needs a couple cold nights to sweeten up the Pears. Bought some more Fall bulbs to be planted after summer goes away, another 70-80 this week. Mulched more leaves. The Milkweed pods are popping open and sending their seeds on their way.The giant Zinnias love this weather.

We finally got some rain but not much. Warm all week and Today cold. Canned a couple more quarts of Pears. Still many Pears on the tree. Still some Tomatoes picked. Trimmed some more trees. There are some more Peppers in the greenhouse to be picked. The lack of rain has speed up leaves falling. Our Fire bushes are turning red. The Barrel garden has shut down as is Rock/Rain garden is shutting down. Lawn hasn't grown for a month. The Tomato plants are still flowering so we may get a bunch of green Tomatoes to harvest just before a frost.

A warm week for Oct and little rain. We have picked a few Tomatoes enough for salad. The Peppers in the greenhouse still growing. Canned 6 more quarts of Pears. Trimmed some more off a couple trees. Put up our Halloween decor an bought 4 big Pumpkins from the local Pumpkin purveyor. We have Onions coming up where I missed and had died back. Still too dry, grass still not growing. Zinnias and Pinks still blooming.

Brought in a few more Tomatoes and Peppers. We got some rain, still in a drought. Watered the Christmas tree. The Halloween decor simple but effective. A little more tree trimming. Not allot more Pears. Still no frost so Tomato and Pepper plants growing,although slow. Started mulching fallen leaves into the grass. Mowed down the barrel garden as it went to sleep more due to the drought than the fall. The Rock/Rain is shutting down too. A few revived Flowers with the rain. The Zinnias just thriving.

Still no frost and we are supposed to get rain. A few more Tomatoes and collecting seeds for next year. I got my 5 Norway Spruce seedlings for donating to Arbor Tree foundation, going to plant this week. Did allot mulching of leaves, almost all down. Mowed down the Rock/Rain garden and also the Barrel garden. Planted some Tulip bulbs. Got more bulbs to plant. The Celery in the Rock/Rain garden only vegee to grow the rest was a bust, not enough sun most likely. We will have Celery for Stuffing. A little more tree trimming to do. I leave the Pumpkins that we had as decorations out as the Squirrels seem to focus on the 5 un carved Pumpkins to slowly tunnel through them for seeds and leave the Flower bulbs alone.

Found a Red Tomato and pulled the green ones from that the plants the cold weather has the killed, but no frost yet. Mulching of the leaves, most are down, just waiting on the neighbors leaves (Maple last to drop). We got some rain but still in a drought. Planted a bunch of bulbs, still some more yet. The Celery is still growing. A bunch of Onions have popped up and growing from the ones I missed during the summer. The Squirrels are boring into the Pumpkins for seeds, hopefully that will keep them from the bulbs. Starting to pull up the Tomato sticks. Collecting seeds for next year. Fig trees still have their leaves on. Planted the 5 Norway Spruce I got from the Arbor Day donation

Picked a bunch of Green Tomatoes off the plants that have died, still allot plants still growing. The weather is still above average temps. No frost yet and no real rain fall. Mulching the leaves blowing in. Put garden table back in the garage. Collecting seeds for next year. Planted a bunch more bulbs. Pulled up the tomato stakes. Dug up some of the Onions that started to regrow that I missed this summer when they died back. 'The Celery is doing well with the rain we did get.

Well it snowed but did not freeze. Weather is Nov like. Picking all the green Tomatos, ripen in the house. The Squirrels have managed to bore through the 4 Pumpkins and carry off the seeds, a good distractiom from flower bulbs. More of neighbors leaves blew in so there is more mulching to do. The Celery is still OK.The plants in greenhouse still OK. Got to plant one more set of bulbs. The container Fig needs to be brought in. Brought into the garage most of the Tomato sticks. If it drys out a bit I will Rototill the garden under to hasten the break down of Leaf mulch.

Well it is officially winter, we had 6 days of below 32 degrees, so growing season is over outside, I will check the greenhouse Wednesday for anything alive as will go above freezing so any air will be beneficial if any is still alive. This cold this early for a long time is unusual so most likely growing season is over. I do have to plant some bulbs and seeds in the rain/rock garden. When we get some warmer I will do that. We still have Tomato's we picked green, turning red yet so that is good.We also have Green Onions I dug up that started to grow again this fall. We have 12 canned quarts of Pears, Frozen Gooseberries, Raspberries and some Tomatos. An average year but anytime you eat something you have grown is a great year.

It is almost Christmas, so far we only have had a dusting of snow. We still have some Tomatoes on the kitchen couter that are turning red so we have good tasting Tacos and Salad. I am using the Raspberries to put in my Yougurt. Most of the rest of the fruit will be used to make some kind of homemade dessert, Pie, Strudel etc. The only thing left to attend to until Feb is the 5 Norway Spruce seedlings we received for Arbor Day donation. They seem to be doing good as they had 8 days in a row below freezing. In Feb or March we will start with seeds the cold weather plants in the Greenhouse like Letuce Spinach and Kale.

As always for Christmas we lite up the Greenhouse as Santas Ice House. See below.

Dec 22nd & Dec 29th

Well the year end is here and it is ending above normal temps. We just finished off th last of the green Tomatos turning red. This is about average time for them to last when you pull all the Green Tomatos before the first frost.We still have some frozen Tomatoes and Okra. We have Canned Pears and Frozen Raspberries, Pumpkin Apples and Gooseberries yet. The greenhouse was used again successfully as Santas Home lit up with 3 Chistmas Laser lights. Did a little tree trimming outside. Did some more leaf mulching and mulched the garden, Spread some more saved Flower seeds into the Rock/Rain garden.