What's going on in the garden?

I was able to get outside in the gorgeous weather today and get some chores done that have been on my mind for awhile. The temps today were at about 68-70º and no wind which made for a perfect day for it! I did have other chores planned for the day but I was all too happy to put off giving the dogs a bath!

It's not all that pretty, but here's what's going on out there:

Above, these beds have been empty for over a month now and the dogs have been running rampant through them. The bed on the left will be the garlic and shallot bed, and I put in some pansies today - I usually separate the varieties with pansies to add a little "pretty" during the winter and early spring. The back right bed was cover cropped today in crimson clover. I've never done that before but it's high time I did. The little bed in front holds some pansies and leeks. Also, more "ho"ing of cosmo seedlings all around the pathways.

To finish those beds off, I had to put up all the "skewers" again to keep the dogs off while things germinate and get started. I am lucky in that once there are plants actively growing in there, the dogs stay out. This could conceivably backfire on you if you have an Aussie like me or a Border Collie who sees the sticks and thinks "game on!" thinking they are weaving poles in a sheepdog trial!

Below, what's going on in the fenced-in garden:

I got lazy harvesting the yard beans, so I'm letting all these dry for seed, hoping I'll have some to share with you all. I ripped out the cosmos today as they didn't have much life in them anymore.

Closer look at these beds: (not that pretty thanks to lots of flood loss)

Above, peas, also planted some pansies to separate the leek and scallion seeds I planted today.

Below, the lettuces are just starting to take off. The greens you see are Pak Choy, Gourmet Mix, Tango Lettuce, Spinach - then a few rows of the second sowing of lettuce and spinach I did today, followed by scallions and parsley at the top of the photo.

Below is a mix of Brussels Sprouts (yuk - they are just there for s&!ts and giggles!), and Snowball Cauliflower. These are pretty sparse thanks to the worms and flooding rains we had 2 weeks ago, some didn't make it.

Below is the Piracicaba Broccoli (SEVERE worm damage) and Scarlet Runner Beans I just started as an experiment - I really wanted them this summer but they never germinated in the intense heat. They sprouted no problem once it cooled off the beginning of October. The big mass you see at the end of the bed is Moonflower, after remaining about 3 inches tall for 4 months - it jumped off my fence and climbed all the way up the tomato pvc tower! It appears to enjoy the cool weather and there are 20-30 huge blossoms on it every night and early morning, then they drop off and look like wads of T.P. all over the garden, LOL

My deck "winter garden" - Swiss Chard, Parsley, Pansies

Below, my mums have turned into quite a hedge this year!

The light was really giving me problems getting a shot of my mum and rosemary hedge - but the prostrate rosemary is covered with lavender blossoms all year long. Actually, I'm going to run out now that it's a few hours later and see if I can get a shot of the rosemary blossoms...

Well, I tried! Photos in the afternoon don't do it justice. I think I'll try for one on an overcast day, that's when the purple blossoms are very pretty.

On the way back inside, I took this one too - look! The hoarder-fish are still alive! Wow, my photos are terrible when I have to be facing the sun, and this is even under a pergola.

There, now I feel better being accountable to you all that I do indeed still have a garden! It didn't seem like it for awhile with all the flooding rains, I kind of gave up for a while - but I'm getting back in the swing of things again.