• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Red Dirt Ramblings®

Red Dirt Ramblings®

Firmly rooted in the Oklahoma soil

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Garden Coaching
  • Contact
  • My Gardens
    • The Back Garden
    • The Potager
  • Show Search
Hide Search
Aster oblongifolius (syn. Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) 'Raydon's Favorite' in my garden. Dee Nash

First freeze

Last weekend, the garden woke to 29° F. It was quite a shock to the garden, but the gardener was secretly relieved at the first freeze. Between two motorcycle trips, a train trip, moving my mother to her new home in an independent living facility, and selling her house–insert sigh–I am exhausted in the purest sense of the word.

Bill and Dee at Bikes, Blues and BBQ in Fayetteville,
Bill and Dee at Bikes, Blues and BBQ in Fayetteville, AR.
The open road from a motorcycle. Tooling around Eureka Springs, AR.
The open road from a motorcycle. Tooling around Eureka Springs, AR.

Thanksgiving is this month, and I hope I have the gumption to cook. I am giving myself permission not to if I don’t.

[bctt tweet=”Thanksgiving is this month, and I hope I have the gumption to cook. I am giving myself permission not to if I don’t. ” username=”reddirtramblin”]

So, while I would normally run out and cover a few things before the first freeze, this year I did not. Mom’s house closes on November 9, and we’ve nearly finished moving everything off the premises. I’m so grateful for all of the help I’ve received especially from Michael. Hey Mike! He did a yeoman’s job of helping sort and package, lift and tote. In fact, yesterday, we painted.

Rosehip on Baseye's Blueberry rose. This rose always has rosehips.
Rosehip on Baseye’s Blueberry rose. This rose always has rosehips.

I’ve done nothing in the garden this fall except for a couple of days when I took cuttings of coleus and other tender plants for the greenhouse. I didn’t get all of the plants I wanted, but I did get most of them. I also planted peonies. They came two days before we left to ride the Coast Starlight from Los Angeles to Seattle. If you want, I might post about that trip. Let me know if you’re interested.

I opened the peonies’ plastic bags to keep them from rotting and left for a couple of weeks. One afternoon when it was a little warmer, I dashed outside and planted them all the while remembering when my children were small, and and I gardened in fits and starts all the time. Thirty minutes here, an hour there. The garden was much smaller then. I was much younger too.

Will's Wonderful mum. I know these pictures aren't my best, but I just wanted to snap a few shots to show you the garden. It's still alive.
Will’s Wonderful mum. I know these pictures aren’t my best, but I just wanted to snap a few shots to show you the garden. It’s still alive.

I need to order tags for the peonies. Otherwise, I’ll never remember what their names are. I’m putting this here so I won’t forget. I’ll also tell Siri to remind me. Now, where is that phone?

[bctt tweet=”I have too many plants, but I also never have enough. It’s the gardener’s lament I think.” username=”reddirtramblin”]

What happened after the first freeze?

The tropicals were goners of course, and many perennials were tired too, but my ‘Raydon’s Favorite’ asters are still going strong, bless them.

Aster oblongifolius (syn. Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) 'Raydon's Favorite' still blooming in my garden after the first freeze.
Aster oblongifolius (syn. Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) ‘Raydon’s Favorite’ still blooming in my garden after the first freeze.

The few pollinators left in the garden are grateful for any nectar source and for places to hide.

After the first freeze, good old Miscanthus sinensis, maiden grass in my garden.. It is next to Blush Knockout rose.
Good old Miscanthus sinensis, maiden grass, in my garden.. It is next to Blushing Knockout rose. I’m not even sure that rose is sold in commerce anymore. I still like it a lot, and so far, no RRD.

Speaking of pollinators, I’m giving you and me permission to leave our perennial stalks up and waving in the wind. For one thing, it provides winter interest unless we get a lot of snowfall. For another, all those little flower flies and bees have placed their children into the stalks of various perennials like Phlox paniculata, garden phlox, Leucanthemum × superbum, shasta daisies, and Echinacea purpurea, purple coneflower. 

Their children are figuratively in your hands. If the stalks stay vertical, on the first really warm day in March, in Oklahoma anyway, some of the little darlings will emerge and begin visiting your flowers, especially those with simple flowers. Then, they and their successors will be a joy to you all summer.

Taking care of the creatures in the garden is part of our charge as gardeners. That’s why I don’t use pesticides. I love my flowers, but I love the creatures more especially as I garden longer and longer. It is the busyness and buzzing of the garden that makes me smile.

So, I won’t be doing a large cleanup this fall. I will rake up the oak leaves and shred them placing them in large piles at the end of the lower pasture. I also have a big project for the upper pasture. I’m creating a meadow from seed if I get the time.

For now, I must go. I need to meet the HVAC guys at Mom’s house and make sure they have what they need to get that finished. Hopefully, the gutters will get handled too. It’s nearly done.

Fall is a busy time, and we’re supposed to have some lovely days. Be sure to get out and enjoy them before the winter winds blow.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related

3 November, 2017 By Dee Nash

Filed Under: Gardening, Perennials Tagged With: Garden Cleanup

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. the blonde gardener

    5 November, 2017 at 7:22 am

    Thoughts and prayers (and ibuprofen!) are with you as you transition your mom and get her house ready. I hope she adjusts quickly to her new home. It’s so hard on everyone involved, not only physically but mentally as well.

    On a different note, where do you order your plant tags?

  2. Beth @ PlantPostings

    4 November, 2017 at 8:05 pm

    Sounds like you’ve been busy, busy, busy! We had late frosts and freezes here this fall. I can’t believe I still have things blooming into November. I haven’t seen any pollinators in a while, thought, but it is pretty late in the season for them here in Wisconsin. Dee, I’m thinking of you frequently as you move your mom. 🙂

  3. Anonymous

    4 November, 2017 at 7:31 pm

    I think it is beautiful. Can’t wait to see it next spring.thank you for sharing

  4. Linda Lehmusvirta

    4 November, 2017 at 6:30 pm

    You still have energy I admire so much with all that you’ve got going on: especially moving your mom and taking care of her house. Your garden is always lovely, as you are!

  5. Lisa Greenbow

    3 November, 2017 at 4:11 pm

    It sounds like you have been on an emotional roller coaster. The remains of your post frozen garden look terrific. Sounds like a good year for soup and sandwiches for Thanksgiving. Everyone bring a dish. You have my permission. 😉 Would love to hear about your trips. I travel vicariously now days it seems.

    • Dee Nash

      4 November, 2017 at 12:50 pm

      Lisa, this entire year has been one emotional rollercoaster. I vote for soup and sandwiches for Thanksgiving. It would be fine with me. Why do you no longer travel my friend? I’ll do my Coast Starlight post soon.

  6. Liz BPV

    3 November, 2017 at 2:37 pm

    I would love to hear about the train trip!!

    • Dee Nash

      4 November, 2017 at 12:50 pm

      Thanks for your vote Liz. I’ll do it next week sometime.

  7. Carol Michel

    3 November, 2017 at 1:45 pm

    Tell us about your train trip, Dee!

  8. Kathy from Cold Climate Gardening

    3 November, 2017 at 1:22 pm

    Looking forward to seeing that meadow project.

    • Dee Nash

      4 November, 2017 at 12:52 pm

      It should be fun if hard Kathy. We’ll see if it works.

  9. Peggy Z

    3 November, 2017 at 12:03 pm

    I would love for you to share about the Coast Starlight trip. It is on my bucket list for my husband who loves trains and the coast. You have been very busy! Hoping things settle down with sale. Your garden is always beautiful.

    • Dee Nash

      4 November, 2017 at 12:51 pm

      Thank you Peggy. It’s been crazy for sure. I’ll post sometime next week.

Primary Sidebar

About Dee

Hi, I’m Dee, a professional garden writer and speaker born and raised in Oklahoma. Here you’ll find all my best dirt on gardening and travel. Welcome!

Read More

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Subscribe Here To RDR Updates.


* indicates required
Email News
Email Format

Garden Coaching

Garden Coaching

Grow a beautiful and manageable garden with personalized pointers from Dee!

Learn More

Give my podcast a listen!

Our podcast logo! The Gardenangelists.

Search me baby!

Blogs I Dig

  • Clay and Limestone–TN
  • Cold Climate Gardening–NY
  • Each Little World
  • Growing With Plants
  • May Dreams Gardens–IN
  • Plant Postings–WI
  • Redeem Your Ground
  • Rock Rose–AZ
  • Toronto Gardens–Canada

Red Dirt Sisters

  • Curtiss Ann Matlock
  • The Not Always Lazy W

Footer

Copyright © 2023 · Privacy Policy Sitemap

Copyright © 2023 · Privacy Policy Sitemap

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
 

Loading Comments...