Midwest Gardening November 2018

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I enjoy seeing the changes of our yard as well as the rest of our area throughout the seasons.



Yesterday we had some brilliant sunshine, so I grabbed the camera and took photos of the yard just as it is. With Fall being so delayed, we had to scramble the last two weeks, not everything was accomplished, but maybe we will have another nice day.

oldnewgreenredo

I've been in a bit of a mood, so my Fall decorating was confused, lol, and less than usual. Nothing I did this year was NEW, everything was a REDO or used.

oldnewgreenredo

Since flowers were frosted in late October...I just shoved a few faux bushes here and there, for some color. Blowing leaves has been twice daily event.

 

It was noon, but the shadows were so long---and the sun is already low! That yellow pot had some flowers that just gave up. Have to put it in the shed! The urn will stay and hopefully I can do some Holiday decorating in it, if the dirt isn't frozen.

oldnewgreenredo

oldnewgreenredo

Part of our Fall gardening---is chopping up all the leaves and dumping them into the flower beds. This is a GREEN thing to do. We do not burn leaves, they are composted or blown into the flower beds making great fertilizer and insulation for perennials. 

Yesterday Hubby blew the last of the leaves into the flower beds. Mostly from our Maple trees, they are colorful and dry already. They will provide a nice blanket for the plants.

oldnewgreenredo

Very low key decorating here---we had flowers until the end of October and holiday greens will go out in a week or two, after Thanksgiving.

oldnewgreenredo

I swear blow up decorations were designed by seniors---it took me 10 minutes to set 'TOM' up and put a spotlight on him. Even Chicagoland wind hasn't upset him. Look at the difference in the trees from a week ago...!

oldnewgreenredo

I did arrange some leaf garland in the wreath. Echoing the Maple trees we have in the yard. An ancient plaid bow is a REDO...still a nice subdued touch.

oldnewgreenredo

I put up our bird feeder flag and our lone scarecrow squats in a pot with a pumpkin over a battery light, a GREEN thing to do. It glows a bit at night.

oldnewgreenredo

Our mailbox planter is finally dead totally. I will pull everything out next week, when I add faux greens for the Holidays. (GREEN REDO--Christmas trees'-branches from Garage sales or thrift stores are great for exterior decorating)

oldnewgreenredo

Our bird feeders are empty. They have so much to eat on the ground from the plants around our house, we will start to fill the feeders with the first snow.

oldnewgreenredo

Behind the garage is the pond---frozen with leaves imbedded in it. See the bits of white, that is snow from 10 days ago...we only got a half inch, but it stuck in shady areas. I didn't get the pond drained this year, and the turtle needs to go into the shed. We had such cold and wind here, we are lucky what we got stuff done!

oldnewgreenredo

On the east side----near the concrete of our foundation is this Giant Sedum...frozen, but holding its blossoms and waxy now transparent leaves. Normally, I use these for Thanksgiving arrangements, not this year as they will thaw and crumble.

They are the last bit of color---

oldnewgreenredo

We cleared the side patio and blew the leaves into the beds. 

My Dragonflies are the only color and the old OLD chair.

oldnewgreenredo

oldnewgreenredo

We didn't get the garden tilled, but we did dump dirt from some of the pots---in places that need amended soil. Thirty-three years of amending soil...since it is crappy clay! Maybe by the time we are here 50 years...it will be good.

oldnewgreenredo

Impromptu photo of leaves imbedded in the iced tarp over the sandbox. 

oldnewgreenredo

I managed to drain and flip the pond. Hanging on is the marjoram, the front right. I picked so much and cut back so much and it is still growing.

So many branches down from our wind! The fire pit is full of them, this one landed in a fenced area.

oldnewgreenredo

oldnewgreenredo

We have a low roof on this ranch house---it's noon and look how long the shadows are.

oldnewgreenredo

I did get all the pots sorted and emptied and stored for another year...! They didn't get washed and bleached---it was just too, cold!

HOW HAS YOUR GARDENING...? There is always NEXT year!

Update: Today Noon

oldnewgreenredo

This is snow starting which we weren't supposed to get.

oldnewgreenredo

No sunshine, no long shadows.

oldnewgreenredo

I hadn't notice we actually had berries on our Barberry bushes....the Pond frozen in cold stillness.

I think this little guy has the right idea...a good book and a cup of coffee. Only one more post for Midwest Gardening, in December. Happy Thanksgiving

oldnewgreenredo

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