Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Dahlias

Dahlias make me happy. Dahlias have exquisite, long-lasting blooms in late summer and early fall, when pretty much everything else is finished. The flowers in the pictures below are from bulbs I bought at the Northwest flower and garden show last February. Dahlia bulbs might be a bit on the pricey side (around $5-$20 per bulb depending on the variety), but it sure beats buying them at the market, and they come back every year.




Sunday, October 3, 2010

October garden


It is October, and the weather has officially changed. The crisp air has me dreaming of pumpkin butter and pot roast, however this is the time when summer exits with a big hurrah. Tomatoes are ripe and overwhelming our kitchens. The last of the cucumbers, peppers, eggplants, basil, apples, and beans all need to be harvested before the first frost kills them off. Unless you are stocking up for a canning project, for home gardeners there is little need to visit a farmer's market this time of year.


Speaking of canning projects, what are you doing with your extra tomatoes? Recently I have been hearing of people freezing their tomatoes. This is a new one for me. Anybody know the pros and cons of freezing vs. canning? I have more tomatoes than I know what to do with and am toying with the idea of doing something other than canning this year. Please write in and let me know what you think/know.