Monday, August 28, 2017

THE OLD GIRL'S (SUMMER) LEAVIN'

      I went out this morning to tend my garden and I got the feeling that my plants are finished. there will be no more progress. They will hang around for a few weeks but there will be no more new development.

     Some leaves on tees and shrubs are starting to turn and drop off. Part of this is because of the stress from heat and dryness

     In particular, I was looking at tomatoes. I've got a good crop and we've been eating them for two weeks. We had two hailstorms so some of the garden plants have had a challenge. the onions have done nothing since their tops were knocked off.

     We have had a very hot dry summer. It's tough on plants. I do some watering but only for plants that cannot tolerate being dry. It got to 26C (82 F) today. It was 12 C(54 F) this morning. For the record, the record low for today is -0.6C (30 F) and the record high is 32.3 C (92 F).

     I get back from my after supper bike ride about half an hour before sunset. The sun sets tonight at 8:30. It rose this morning at 6:40.

    So gradually summer is winding down and slowly leaving us.

    Photos are from 2015 and better times.





31 comments:

  1. I too get the idea that the end of summer is here. I always get that feeling come the first long weekend in September. Enjoy whatever is left of the sunshine and warmer days. After breaking records for rain in Spring, we then broke heat records over the summer. We have only had 1/10 of our usual rains in July and August and no rain in sight. The temperatures are also very hot this week but I'm sure that will change soon. Oddly I didn't find it overly warm inside.

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    1. YOU'VE ALSO HAD A LONG SMOKE SESSION. We had a couple short sessions of smoke and it wasn't nice.

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  2. I remember those corn pictures from 2015. Beautiful ears of corn! The garden is about gone here too, although, I was surprised yesterday at how the green beans have come back. I picked enough to cook for supper, and still have some to freeze. It is hard to grow anything in hot dry weather.

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    1. I grew a different bean this year and it hasn't produced yet.

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  3. Becel on corn is a crime against nature, Red!!! If I were to cut butter completely from my life, I would make an exception for corn on the cob :)

    I know what you mean about the plants stalling, although ours have a couple of weeks growth left before they hit that point. It sounds like your growing season is a bit shorter than ours.

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    1. Funny! I haven't had butter for maybe 40-50 years. I don't miss it. Corn is about the only thing I have becel on.

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  4. My tomatoes have been ripening and I'm enjoying them immensely. And yes, summer is definitely on the wane, but for us it's been cooler than normal. That said, we are in a heat wave right now, with it reaching 87°F yesterday! :-(

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    1. I've found my tomatoes rather tasteless this year.

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  5. It has been dry here so lots of watering going on. I am getting tired of BLT's but am processing the last of my tomatoes as they ripen.Seeing some leaf color change.

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    1. Sometimes the tomatoes get ahead of us and then we freeze them.

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  6. Yes, it is nearly done. Hopefully, with some good warm breaks in between. So many tree frogs! Katydids! I love it!

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    Replies
    1. Yes, it's still a while before we get some nasty weather.

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  7. I saw the first fall colours here a little over a week ago.

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    Replies
    1. It seems to be early for leaves turning color.

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  8. On the news today Red. Eating fat is okay. Like french-fries but in moderation. They say one will live longer. The Pasta and suger is the concern. Oh yea! We have been blessed with corn from our grocery store. Foodland. About May we started eating corn from there. You know the kind that is cleaned no covering to pull off. And Red it has been so good. Just till yesterday we say is the end for us. Oh we have those plates you have at sitting. We use them daily. Company the real good ones come out. Dor Easter, Christmas. What a shame aye. Haha. Today is company coming which is 2017-08-29 . Our best friends Birthday to-gether. A treat. Us four love Chinese and where we pick it up is not greasy. Fresh veggies. Awesome.
    For hubby and wife. So going to get Chinese food for supper. We could stay
    but then we are old fashion with company. Food at home eating and chatting.
    For our Anniversary we go sit in Restaurants.

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    1. Some people notice everything like my dishes. I think millions of the same dishes were sold back in the 70's.

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  9. Replies
    1. Fall is a pleasant season- better than summer except for the long days.

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  10. The colors are beginning to turn here in Portland, although yesterday was 101 degrees.

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    Replies
    1. when the leaves are finished producing chlorophyll it's over.

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  11. Our garden is starting to dwindle, too, and still it is hot and dry here too.

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  12. There are signs down here too. Our deck out back is covered with leaves and the nights are cooler.

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  13. Time just zips right by! Our spring and summer was not very nice, so it's even sadder to see summer coming to an end. Hopefully the fall season is much nicer.

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  14. It is a little sad to watch summer dying and over the last few weeks I have noticed the shortening of our days as sunset arrives earlier and earlier. Will we make it to next summer? ...I hope so.

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  15. Yeah, we're noticing that autumnal change here as well. It's nice to get some cooler, fresher air, but I'm always sad to see the garden begin to fade!

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  16. Yep, out here the palm fronds are turning color...
    Just kidding! The main way we see the change to autumn, is by what time the sun goes down, and how far it has moved to the south.

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  17. We had opposite summers... wet and not so hot here, but I didn't mind it. It was 0C when I got up at 5:30 today but no frost. Summer is definitely on its way out!

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  18. Better times indeed. Very cold August and supper wet July here in Bluff Country.

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  19. Our summer was a mix with rain and occasional sun. I've been eating tomatoes for weeks now and still have more to pick. My tomatoes are in a poly tunnel so they thrive in that environment. Our flowers at our house are just about done and will have to be put to bed for the winter. summer shows flies by fast these days.
    Have a wonderful week Red. BTW, people called my father Red when he was alive. He had red hair. :)

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  20. Here in South Florida it will soon be time to plant tomatoes, peppers and herbs, as well as salvia to attract hummingbirds. Nothing lives through the summer but fall is great for starting a garden.

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  21. I am sorry that either you are suffering with heat Red

    Summers are crucial here too from 30 to 53 celsius so our summer garden though remains green but with no flower at all.

    our sun sets in 7:35 in summers and 5:30 in winters .
    your photos are lovely!
    corn reminded me the childhood time when i used to run with friends in corn fields :)

    I believe that your garden will relive soon so stay happy please

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