compost engrossed

 Our unusually warm weather has lulled us into a sense of complacency.  It's hard to believe that we're a little over two weeks from December, especially since we've been experiencing temperatures into the low 80s.  But I know that it can't last, and there's much work to be done before the cold weather hits.  So we've been up with the sun...

...and plotting to take advantage of these last few days of heat.  This past week has been especially productive.  In an effort to locate our main water line, a trench was dug...

...water line located, and frost-free pump installed...right in the back annual garden.  Very convenient!

All of the dead plants and debris had to be removed from this back garden, so I collected the very last bit of seed...

...and pulled up the dead plants.  Claudia helpfully slept in from of the wheelbarrow most of the time.

I think she's going to miss our hang-out times there!

I was amazed to see the size of the celosia stalks.  With a plastic knife for scale, you can see just how thick the 'trunk' of this plant is...and the seed was the size of a grain of sand!

I also found a few garter snake skins...a nice sign in a garden!

It's strange to see the area so flat and brown.  But no time to think about it...so many other things to work on.  Todd cut our old fence...

...since we were having a dump truck full of compost delivered to that space, the garden expansion area.

Loads of mulch and gravel were also delivered.

Not only do we have to spread compost over the new expansion area and then have it tilled in, we have to top-dress the back annual garden with compost and mulch.  That work we will probably hire out...but we had to do the more detail work in the front beds ourselves.  The perennials in all 3 large beds were cut down and hauled away to be burned.

All beds were then top-dressed with a thick layer of compost.  A load of dirt was delivered earlier this week, to build out a new back perennial bed.  This was raked out, and we're slowly adding compost to the top.  As soon as the weather cools, I'll be planting perennial seeds here.

It's exciting to think about...just last year, this was a blank, ugly space.

One half of the perennial garden has already been added:

We're adding a huge wooden bench seat with a pergola for climbing roses that will sit against the house, a bird bath, and bird feeders.  Two mulched paths will meander through this space.  I'm excited to do a same-perspective photo, from 2019 to 2021!

While I've been spreading compost, Todd has been using excess fill dirt to even out ruts and dips on the property.

I had to hurry and dig up my dahlias this week, too.  Even though they were first root-bound and then completely dried out by the drought (my watering was very sporadic), they were gorgeous.

It's too cold in our zone for the dahlia tubers to overwinter in the ground, so they have to be dug up in the fall after a few good frosts, like potatoes:

Dahlia tuber multiply.  From 5 tubers planted, I got this amazing bounty:

Over 50 tubers!  But I learned that these are only the food sources for the plant, and that growth comes from the "eyes" at the base of the stalk.  You have to slice up this mass carefully, since multiple tubers can hang from just one eye.  The problem?  I don't see any eyes, which look like little white bumps.  They become more prominent in spring, apparently, so I'll overwinter these clumps in the garage and hope that I can do a better job of spotting them in the spring.  I'm not getting 50 dahlias from 5, but there's a good chance that I'll end up with 20!

With so much outdoor work, my only indoor activity has been collapsing on the couch at the end of the day.  I haven't had the time nor energy for working on my quilt, although it remains in the sewing machine, ready at a moment's notice.  Apparently it's a well-loved item, even before being finished!

They heartily approve of this hobby.  :)

Have a great week!