I spent the last bits of daylight saving plants that I had not managed to dig or bring in before. Tonight there's a freeze warning for much of Virginia and Maryland, it was my last chance. I was already feeling very triumphant, having dug all of my tender bulbs and storing them properly. But every morning I would look out to the garden and wonder if I really would have time to save those last few. So now I'm feeling especially great, it's done.
My Russelia equisetiformis has grown so large that I can barely pick it up. It's common name is firecracker plant, a plant you rarely find at local nurseries. Easily divided, I could have chopped it into smaller plants, but I'm a plant pig, I want it all.
A few other desirable tropical were brought in, Begonia 'Morroco' and Senecio articulatus, two I would have hated to loose. Prompts, like repeating threats of frost, really can get the gardener going. I remember how crazy it was at the nursery with the first threat and a sudden change of plans with the whole day going to filling the big greenhouse with anything tender. These big tropicals were or would become stock plants, the ones that provide cuttings for the next year.
In the open garden, the threat of frost is more a call to cut flowers before they turn to mush. Otherwise it can be a good thing, turning leaves on hardy plants a richer red. Here is an example of some garden plants in October and then November.
October
November
These are months of change, equal only to the months that precede spring. Most gardeners hate winter and especially dislike the change to standard time. I had a friend comment, where are we putting all of that daylight savings?
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