In the Trees

On Thursday, I wound up the garden hoses, dragging bunches of pesky pine needles and cones with them.

On Friday, I had to turn on my car lights as I drove to work at 8:00am.

On Saturday, comforting -if polluting- wood smoke escaped from a neighborhood stove and swooped into the garden as I indulged in more gardening exploits.

It’s clear: Summer 2010 is departing and Fall is making its arrival.

The rain is back, thankfully, and it’s a matter of weeks before my Japanese Maples color the otherwise misty gray landscape that is my garden in Fall.

Before I get too excited about Fall colors and activities, I’d like to devote this post to the successes of Summer 2010. I won’t be talking about the weather, needless to say, but I will share five successes or “a-ha” moments I experienced over the last few months.

Success #1: Fresh, rich potting soil really makes a difference for annuals in containers.

Back in May, with the help of the Garden Hero, we emptied the soil from the large deck and garden containers one by one into a wheelbarrow, mixed in fresh compost and potting soil and then refilled the containers. What a difference this made! This year’s crop of containerized annuals is the best ever. They’ve already provided 4+ months of ample color, and are likely to keep going until the first frost in October/November. The wheelbarrow will definitely be called into action again next year!

Success #2: Planting a selection of smaller tomato varieties such as Grape, Cherries, and small Romas was a wise move.

I won’t mention that 7-letter “w” word; because of it though, large growing tomato varieties across the Portland  area, by many accounts, are reluctant to ripen.  I don’t mean to be boastful but my itsy-bitsy ones have ripened. I’ve harvested baskets full of mostly flavorful tiny tomatoes when colleagues tell me their beefsteaks, Early Girl (hah!) and Better Boy (double hah!) languish on the vines, green as shamrocks on St. Patrick’s Day. I’ve known there’s a greater chance of success ripening smaller variety tomatoes earlier. This year, I’ve confirmed it.

Success #3: Going “au naturel” is the way to go. With the lawn, that is.

The lawns received no fertilizer of any kind, got a 1/4″ of water on Summer Sundays (7 in total) , and were mowed precisely 6 times this year, with a push mower. That’s pretty low maintenance in my estimation; I didn’t even have to go get gas! Now that the back lawn has been downsized, and the mud patch converted into a new bed, it’s looking pretty good. A lawn aficionado would cringe hearing me call it a lawn, but for me it’s a pleasant, low-maintenance green patch that fits in nicely with my sustainable gardening efforts.

Success #4: The square folding tomato cages are the ultimate supports for the Annabelle Hydrangeas.

Love, love, love these supports. Why didn’t I think of these years ago? Place them early before the Annabelles leaf out, train in any wayward branches that escape the cage, and “flopitis” is a thing of the past.

Success #5: It’s hard to beat masses of cheerful annuals for bursts of color and months of interest.

I hate to admit this because I’ve usually passed on buying annuals in favor of  perennials, around for years. But the impatiens and trailing potato vines, planted back in May are still growing strong, brightening up the shadows under the trees, contrasting pleasingly against all the green foliage. And white, even if you don’t consider it a color, shows well in the shade.