October Garden Notes
We’ve just passed the five-year anniversary of our arrival in San Diego. We were going to commemorate it last week with a trip to a favorite park, but the three youngest kids have taken turns with a lovely little virus, so we’ve postponed.
After five years, you’d think I’d be used to the strange seasons here, but a Southern California October still feels novel to me. My garden dries up in August, goes dormant almost, unless I’m willing to douse it with gallons of water daily. (I’m not.) Now, after a week of wonderfully cool(ish) weather—why, the mornings have been almost brisk!—and sheltering clouds, things are perking back up a bit. Suddenly the roses are blooming. Up and down the block, my neighbors’ rosebushes look like the end of The Blue Castle. The cape honeysuckle is magnificent, swarming with bees. Geranium, lantana, plumbago, and morning glory: everywhere I look is color. Red, pink, orange, sky blue, violet.
We planted lettuce starts and peas this weekend. There’s one melon ripening on the cantaloupe vine, and the watermelon I planted over the summer is finally thinking about blossoming. Will it produce? We shall see.
(My garden attracts all sorts of critters.)
Helen says:
Dear Melissa – what a beautiful and perfect photos – I love them all so much š
On October 25, 2011 at 6:31 pm
MelanieB says:
Beautiful flowers. We were collecting some of the last of our flowers to press in Bella’s flower press today.
But my favorite picture is the little critter.
On October 25, 2011 at 6:32 pm
tanita says:
Those critters tend to be wriggly, but if you sneak up on them in the garden, you will find that you can catch them.
They squeal, but that’s just part of catching them.
MAN, I have homesickness when I see your garden pictures! Our visas are up and our (almost) five year gig here is over in Feb. – don’t know what the future holds, but I’m really hoping it holds sweet peas and lettuces and watermelon plants in October!
On October 26, 2011 at 1:55 am
Jennifer says:
How beautiful! I love Morning Glories. Such an amazing blue.
On October 26, 2011 at 3:04 am
Penny says:
Such pretty pictures to match such pretty words. It’s always fun to see your garden bloom as ours dies out – keeps me hopeful!
On October 26, 2011 at 4:28 am
Elizabeth K. says:
I understand exactly what you’re saying about October–and I grew up here! I’ve tried to explain to people from other places how you know it’s fall in Southern California because of the air and the light, so even though the temperature is the same it’s all. . .different.
On October 29, 2011 at 10:23 pm