Thursday, December 1, 2011

November Summed Up

 

Here it is December already and November went by very fast.
At least it seemed it flew by to me.
To sum the November up it was a wet month giving us the fourth wettest November in history, but the temperatures were mild. Snow flurries on the last day brought in December with normally colder temperatures.
November was a busy month in the garden with several clean ups to get the beds cleaned up before winter.
With highs in the sixties on two days after Thanksgiving I was found enjoying November’s last fling by working outside and soaking up the sunshine before it all disappeared with heavy rains.

SkystheLimit

The last of the plants were cut off and rose bushes that had been left to bloom because I did not have the heart to cut off the blooms were trimmed back. And the mounds of leaves that continued to blow into the flower beds were given a final rake
and mulched up.

Sunrise_Fog_2011

November brought many foggy and hazy mornings.

November2_Sunrise With beautiful pink sunrises and sunsets.

November_Hellebore November2_Hellebore


November also brought on a growth spurt to the young hellebore plants.

November_Daffodils November’s mild temperatures also confused the Daffodils causing them to break through the ground.

November brought on a planting and moving frenzy for this gardener. Moving plants to better locations where they may grow better and for planting many spring bulbs.

Lily_CountRadish Lily_GentleEd

It brought on tempting clearance sales on bulbs and  for lilies such as “Count Radish” and “Gentle Ed” that were added to the beds.

 Dahlia_RedSkin_SyrphidFly
Dahlia roots were cut, dried and stored into the cooler basement for the winter.

CallaLily_PotatoVine_Ipomea
Cuttings from the Sweet potato vines were brought in before the freeze and the deer took them.

Junco 
In November the Junco’s or Snowbirds as we call them here arrived.

Housefinch_Male And the birdfeeders  got really busy.
Also this November the grass was still green from the mild temperatures and the wet days. I do not remember a year when the grass was green all summer and fall.

FPC_FallBeginnings3 
With Thanksgiving passing along with the Fall days, December comes in with colder, darker and snowy days of winter.
And it is on to Christmas…..

ChristmasPorch_2011 
The outdoor Christmas decorations were put up on the front porch.

Windowbox_Christmas_Pantsies And the window boxes were filled with pine, faux Poinsettias and Pinecones. Even if the Pansies are peeking out amongst the decorations in colors of white and purple. LOL!
Well they be back next spring?

Happy Gardening,
Lona

 

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hermosas imágenes para un cuidado blog. Te sigo... Felicidades!

Giga said...

Ogród do zimy przygotowany, niektórym kwiatom spieszy się do ponownego kwitnienia, ptaki są , niebo na drugim zdjęciu - piękne, trawa zielona - wszystko więc jest dobrze. Jeszcze dodam, że śliczne zdjęcia zrobiłaś. Pozdrawiam cieplutko

Karen said...

Lona, what a wonderful summary of the fast-flying days of November. The sunsets were gorgeous here, too. I was out there trying to capture them but half the time ended up with blurry pictures because I'm too stubborn to use a tripod. It looks like you had not problems though, yours are gorgeous.

I wish I had remembered to take sweet potato cuttings; but I just don't have much space in our little hut to keep them. Your cuttings look so healthy. I have some droopy coleus sitting in water (!) yet. I don't know why I haven't potted them up, yet.

Love your winter decor and now that you remind me, I still have some dahlias in the ground outside. Is it too late? Might be, if I don't get out there before the snow needs shoveling. We're having flurries today.

D said...

Where did it go, Lona? In fact, where did the year go. I'm not liking this the older I get the faster it goes... :)

Lovely photos, but that 2nd one struck a note in my heart! I hope your December is beginning to be wonderful

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

Lona..your outside Christmas decor is just beautiful..Our Pine boughs are too high up to cut any..but a drive into the mountains might yeild something.
How I would love to be the gardner you are, but I get stuck in the house and don't get out often enough. When I do..I think "why don't I do this all the time." It's really a joy like no other..the anticipation of a springtime garden to look forward too. I know, of course, that yours is going to be beautiful!

Maybe this year I will get my garden in order. It certainly needs my attention. My rose still need to be cut back, but like you, I find it hard to do when I can still see blooms. :)

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Lona,

I did the pansy thing last year under my other plants and it did not work. However, it may work in your warmer zone, wouldn't that be a great idea to underplant the spring flowers!

Eileen

Corner Gardener Sue said...

Hi Lona,
I enjoyed reading about your November. Ours was fairly mild, too, but winter is here now. We are expecting snow and cold this weekend.

I have never rooted a potato vine before. I keep forgetting. Yours looks very healthy.

We just got our feeders filled a few days ago. So far, I've just seen sparrows on them.

Unknown said...

Your winter decor is beautiful! I've not finished the end of summer clean up, the rains always deter me - Once it gets cold out and wet out I just can't do it!
You've had some beautiful skies and I love the foggy morning photo..

pogonip said...

I'd be happy if I could just get all the leaves raked up...AGAIN! Time to settle in with my houseplants and catalogs of English roses :)

BernieH said...

Beautiful Rose and beautiful sunset. The two new Daylilies are stunners. I just love the colour of 'Count Radish'! Your Christmas decorations are terrific. You're already in the Christmas mood! I hope it's a short, easy-to-live with Winter!

Sunray Gardens said...

Summed it up pretty well for our area Lona. Most everything is leafless here now except my Spirea.
Cher Sunray Gardens

Balisha said...

Great summary of last month. I enjoyed coming here all through the past year...to see your beautiful blooms. Now as you say, On to Christmas...Balisha

Debra Howard said...

Wow! I love that picture of the fall leaves. We are just now seeing our leaves turn colors. Looks out of place at Christmas time. I am hoping and praying for a white Christmas. We could really use the moisture after such a dry year.
Debbie

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Lona girl how are you !!!
I never thought to bring in cuttings from the Sweet potato vines .. or the coleus .. drats !!
next year I will try that out .. and now I know what those sweet little birds are in our back garden .. Juncos ? dark body with light belly ? Husband thought they were "warblers" ? I only know obvious birds like robins, Bluejays, seaguls, crows .. well ... you get the idea girl eh ? LOL .. I am a complete DUH? at identifying a bird even if it sat on my head ? LOL
Love all your Christmas decor it is so pretty !
I did a bit for the entrance and number one son said he would put the tree up while husbnand is gone (to Cuba) LOL.
Your blog is beautiful girl ! perfect for the season !!
Joy

Anonymous said...

November was a whirlwind month to be sure. I can hardly belive that its December already. Your holiday decor is lovely. Enjoy the yule tide season!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a good November to me Lona! At least no snow. ugh. I'm tired of it already and winter hasn't even officially started. I found some bulbs coming up here too ~ what's up with that???
btw, I LOVE your blog header ~ it's just beautiful.

sweetbay said...

Your new header is wonderfully Christmasy!! Gentle Ed looks like a beauty. I wish we had as many Sugar Maples here as you do in Ohio!