Preserving Fall Leaves, Part 1

Drying leaves in a book

Fall leaves are so beautiful, with so many gorgeous colors and shapes.  I collect some of them for decorating, along with acorns and pine cones. There are ways to preserve leaves, so that you can enjoy them longer.

Fall Color

 

Red maple

The last few days, trees here have started to show their fall colors.  As I drive to and from work, and as the dog and I go for our walks, at every turn of a corner there's a new and colorful view.  The maple in the photo is a tree in my back yard. 



Scraping Continued

Here's the results of the last several evenings. 

Summer and Fall

Moss rose, zinnias, and mums

One of my flower beds is pictured at right. My moss rose is still blooming, lasting long enough to  be seen right next to the white mums.

Carrot Seedlings

The veggies I planted last month are continuing to grow.  Pictured here are the carrots. They're growing in a large wheeled container, so I can move it into my little greenhouse before the first hard freeze. It's unheated, but even so, these carrots will give me and my bunnies fresh crunchies later this winter.

Spreading Compost

This weekend, I've been taking the finished compost from my largest compost bin to spread in my garden beds. This bin is the one where I put most of my fall leaves and chopped up garden debris. Since the bin doesn't rotate, and I don't turn it very often, it composts slowly.  I just leave it to break down on its own, and then remove the finished compost from the bottom door when it's ready.

Potted Parsley

With winter coming, one of the things the bunnies and I really miss is all of the wonderful fresh herbs from the garden.  In the summer, I grow parsley, rosemary, basil, chives, and several kinds of mint.  Every summer morning, I bring in a "bunny salad" of various greens and herbs for the rabbits.  I use a lot of these herbs in my cooking too.

Late Bloomer

Morning glories in October

Late last spring I planted a variety of flowering vines in one of the containers on the west side of my house.  There was morning glory, purple hyacinth bean vine, and sweet peas; all planted from seed.  The sweet peas bloomed early in the summer, and then as it became hot, died off.

Bougainvillea Vine

Night temperatures here are creeping lower and lower; with many nights now in the 40s. Tomorrow night is forecast to get down into the 30s.  So I've been moving the last few plants that I plan to keep over the winter indoors. I don't have enough sunny windows in my house to keep all my plants going over the winter, and there are some painful decisions to make every fall.  Is a certain plant going to do well indoors, is there enough room for it, or do I just leave it out to die in the cold?

Flowers in the Fall

Sweet alyssum

As fall progresses, I find myself really noticing those flowers that are still in bloom.

Ornamental Peppers

"Black Pearl" ornamental peppers

Hummingbird Moths

Last month I saw hummingbird moths in my garden, and researched to find out what they were. They are still visiting my flowers nearly every evening. 

Scraping Project

Every fall as the days get shorter, I spend my evenings scraping away, trying to finish this year's painting project before the weather gets too cold.  As the days get shorter, there's less time to work outdoors.

White roses

Earlier this summer with all of the rain we had, my roses had the worst case of black spot they've ever had. There's been enough sunny weather since then, that the roses are starting to recover.  I continue to spray them, and clean away infected leaves, in the hope of minimizing the disease next year.