Six on Saturday-Oct. 6

  It’s definitely autumn, although the temperatures are still mild…85 degrees today, but only 57 yesterday.  The black walnuts and cottonwood leaves are falling, foliage is turning to fall’s palette, and colors are intensifying.  For the first Saturday of October’s “Six” we begin with 1) The potager’s first pumpkin, harvested today, an adorable “Baby Bear.”  Orange is my happy color, so there’s lots about October to make me smile.  2) It’s time to harvest these orange celosia.    They can’t take even a hint of frost, so I’ll cut them yet this week with long stems, strip the leaves, and hang them in the dim light of the Lady Cottage.  They’ll hold their orange color and be useful for winter bouquets.   3) The same is true of these plumed celosia “Fresh Look Orange.”  I hate to take their bright plumes out of the border, but I’ll be traveling soon and it’s likely frost will come before I return.  4) This sprawling sweet potato vine will be moved into the greenhouse before I leave.  It got a late start, but has enjoyed our hot, wet summer.   5)  I will miss dahlia “Sylvia” while I am gone.  Of all the dahlias planted this season, she has definitely performed best so more will be ordered for next year so that some can go into the cutting garden.  6) Recent rains and cooler evenings have definitely made a lot of the self-seeded lettuces thrive as well as several of these purple-toned mustards,   which have popped up here and there as welcome surprises.  Free food!  What a giggle!

If you’ve enjoyed seeing this “Six on Saturday” post, click on the link to visit The Propagator, who hosts this meme.  It’s always interesting, because some gardens have already had frost, some are busy with fall crops, and some gardens in other parts of the world are just now doing spring planting!

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