This is a place to focus on what's currently happening in the gardens. I want to share fun seasonal garden stories & events with you. Josh is going to archive the posting as seasons evolve. We hope you will embrace it with a fun-filled spirit.

Autumn is upon us displaying nature's fall beauty. What a special time of year to enjoy. We're enticed outdoors just to smell the aromatic crispness in the air. There's no time better to go for a walk and maybe hold the hand of someone you love. Hear crunching of leaves & inhale the essence of Indian Summer. Maybe pick-up some nuts to crack. Soak up warmness to preserver winter's long darkness. Embrace soft sunshine on your face & shoulders. Smile! Think about raking leaves with the sounds of children jumping & frolicking in the piles. Have fun with scarecrows, Indian corn, colorful gourds, jack o' lanterns, Halloween costumes, & Trick or Treat. Visit a Pumpkin Patch. Thanksgiving is coming. Say a silent prayer while you walk. Pumpkin pie, roast turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, family & friends will gather. Make good memories.

Last fall I took my two grandchildren (7 & 11), one of my daughters, my mom & her best friend (old ladies) to Carroll's Pumpkin Patch near Grinnell, IA. I lived in Grinnell many years & it's only 45 minutes away. It was a perfect sunny October afternoon. We had the best time. On the tractor pulled wagon ride out to the fields we watched pumpkins catapulted high in the air burst upon impact into the farm pond. It was really kool! We ran helter-skelter each searching for that one perfect pumpkin to later carve a jack o' lantern from. Arriving back on the farm yard we washed & weighed & Nana paid for the prize pumpkins.

We ate popcorn & drank delicious free apple cider straight from the hand operated mill. The kids got to turn the crank & learn how apple cider is made. There were wheel barrow rides, hay bales to climb on, a tire swing had children of all ages lined-up waiting for their turn. Toddlers rode the cow-train pulled by a riding lawn mower. Pigmy goats put on a good show just being goats & loving attention. It was fun hiding in the corn maze even if I was the only grandma out there. I wish we could go every year.

http://www.pumpkinpatchesandmore.org/IApumpkins.php

There's lots to do outdoors yet. Marlee came to play & help Nana pick up walnuts again. We had hot chocolate with marshmallows when we went indoors. The autumn colors are so fantastic in October. Look at the Burning Bush. Wow! We grow it just for the fall color & tiny little berries that help feed winter birds.

To learn more about burning bush click on: http://home.hiwaay.net/~oliver/burningbush.htm

Marlee is suppose to be picking up walnuts off the ground. Instead she's up in the tree. Fun! I wish I could still climb a tree. I remember climbing way up an apple tree when I was about Marlee's age. I got scared to get down. My mom was yelling at me, the dog was barking, & my brother was making fun of me.

It seems there’s nearly as much to do in the garden in fall as in spring. But the exuberance of energy is nullified as the garden resting phase approaches. The end of the growing season is upon us. It‘s autumn. “Ready or not, here I come” is whispered on every cool breeze and signified with each falling leaf. There’s so much work to do before the snow flies & the freezing Iowa temperatures dominate approaching winter days.

Autumn mums gloriously illustrate the grand finale of the gardening season.

Digging tender bulbs is a big fall chore. It's easier when Ron helps dig cannas but not as therapuetic. I like to sit soaking-in warm fall sunshine & inspect & clean each newly unearthed treasure. Ron just wants to get the job done. I appreciate his willingness to help though & have learned to let him help me. Here's my cart full for this year.

See ISU Extension Services Gardening Publications:

Garden Tips: Guidelines to Seasonal Chores
Growing and Overwintering Tender Perennials
Cannas for Home Landscapes

"Technically speaking, many popular "bulb" flowers are not produced from true bulbs at all. Crocuses and gladioli, for example, are really corms, while such favorites as dahlias and begonias are really tubers.

The differences between bulbs and corms are slight, and indeed the two look very similar. The main distinguishing trait is the method of storing food. In corms, most of the food is stored in an enlarged basal plate rather than the meaty scales, which in corms are much smaller. Corms generally tend to be flatter in shape than round, true bulbs.

Tubers and roots are easily distinguished from bulbs and corms. They have no protective tunic and are really just enlarged stem tissue. They come in a variety of shapes, from cylindrical, to flat, to just about any combination you can imagine. Many come in clusters.

Generally, however, you are safe using the term "bulb." Bulb has commonly come to mean any plant which has an underground food storage capacity."

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Quiz Answers

When we planted this little shrub I thought it would only grow 3-4' tall. I got surprised! It must be 10 or 12' tall now. It was part of the plan to "not-have-to-mow" the ditch embankment so thankfully it had plenty of room to spread out. We also were planning to supply winter food for birds.

It's a no-care, grow almost anywhere, hardy & robust shrub. It adds interest to all seasons with showy white flowers in late spring, early fall color, & beautiful bright red shinny fruits for birds to enjoy throughout winter.This shrub is a winner in my opinion. Just be sure it has plenty of elbow room or be willing to keep it cut back.

To learn more click: www.naturehills.com/new/product/shrubs_productdetails.aspx?proname=Snowball+Bush+-+Common

http://www.primefocus-iowa.com/BlanketFlower2.html

This was the second annul pumpkin party at my mom's house. We made jack o' lanterns & had fun with face paints & candy. The kids ran wild playing in the yard. Of course, there was tons of food including pumpkin pie & hot apple cider. The autumn tree colors were spectacular & the view of Lake Red Rock was perfect. It was a fun day.

Reece / pumpkin hands	Reece / Nana painted his face
Robin / Reece painted her face.	Aunt Linda / face paint
Annie / my daughter / pumpkin party

I've learned this little tree is famous for its coral / pink bark. I think of it as red. The name loosely translated means coral tower (rising upward). I bought 2 of these tiny baby trees at K-Mart in one gallon pots a few years ago. They were only $6.00 each. I couldn't resist. I got one for my mom & one for me. Mom didn't want such a tiny specimen so I got to keep them both.

I knew enough about Japanese Maples to not plant them in blazing hot sun & I thought they might need shelter from cold north winter winds. I wasn't sure they would survive zone 5b growing conditions but they were so cheap I thought it was worth a try. I planted them both in garden #3 but the one closest to the house deck refused to grow. It didn't die but other plants were crowding it & it wasn't getting much sun, then there was the heavy cold clay soil to contend with too. So I had to move it 2 years ago (praying for it's survival the whole time). The poor little thing got it's own space in garden #12 C with more sunshine but no open cold winds or direct hot noon-sun. It's growing well & is just the cutest little thing still only about 3 feet tall now. I love it! The tree left in bed #3 has grown amazingly well. It's taller than me now not noticing the formable clay soil. This tree is just wonderful through all four seasons. The red bark glows like hot embers in winter whiteness. The fine leaves emerge so delicately in spring their lime-green-pink color persists through summer. The fading early fall color is a facade for the brilliance that is still to come.

To learn more about Japanese Maple 'Sango Kaku' & other varieties of Japanese Maples click on the following links. But be careful you could get hooked.

www.paghat.com/coralbark.html

www.worldplants.com/mapleintro.htm

After all your tender bulbs are dug & cleaned & stored for winter it's time to plant hardy spring bulbs; that is if the ground isn't too cold & muddy & covered with snow. In the back of your mind you started thinking about this in spring when all the wondrous daffodils & tulips were growing. You think in fall you'll add just a few new bulbs here & there. You don't really have a plan. You tell yourself bulbs have a nicer effect if they're naturalized. You think you'll have lots of time in October to plant bulbs. You quickly forget just how much fall clean-up there is to do every year.

I swore I wasn't planting any new tulips for the deer & the rabbits to eat next spring. But yesterday we went to Menard's. I tried to stay away from the left-over garden stuff aisles. Somehow 5 bags of tulip bulbs (14 bulbs / pk) followed me home. Today Nov. 7th was a perfect Indian Summer day, temps in the low 70s with just such a very gentle little breeze. I spent a lovely afternoon outdoors planting & playing. It was great therapy digging in the dirt with sunshine warming my shoulders. Days like this prove "Gardening Grows the Spirit".

Info - Planting Spring Bulbs

Iowa harvest time brings scenes of farmers working non-stop out in the fields. Huge combines & corn pickers go full-speed-ahead harvesting beans then corn. Huge mountains of corn pop up when the co-op bins are over-flowed. The harvest moon shines bright illuminating the fields of plenty. Almost nothing is as awe striking as the October & November full moon. After the work is done it's time to rest and be thankful for the bountiful produce the Iowa soil has provided to the world.

In the home garden it's harvest time too. I don't have a vegetable garden anymore. I used to can tons of fruit & vegetables when I had a growing family to feed. If you're a vegetable gardener who does home food preservation you know how much work it is. You also know how rewarding it is to freeze & can all the delicious foods grown in the garden. If you'd like to learn about home food preservation I recommend buying a good book on the subject. Having a grandma or mom to help you learn is good too. Below is a link to ISU Extension Services / Home Food Preservation.

Home Food Preservation

Harvest Time for me now is really more Seed Saving & some gathering of pretty blossoms & plumes to preserve by drying. I have a relaxed approach to drying things. I quick stick them in the garage somewhere. If I find them later on & if they look pretty it's a good thing.

www.seedsavers.org

I am serious about collecting flower seed though. Well, okay, semi-serious. When I'm out walking in the garden I pluck dried seed pods from plants I like. Some I throw on the ground so they might come up somewhere in that vicinity next year. Some I stick in a baggie & quick write the name on it. I try to remember to put the year on it too. I worry terrible that the pods might be retaining moisture & I know I should put them in paper bags to dry not plastic but those zip-lock baggies are so convenient. I always plan to change them into paper envelopes or bags, however I rarely get that accomplished. I do leave the plastic bags gapping open until I feel sure no mold or mildew is going to destroy the seed.

I've collected marigold seed forever. I scatter it with the wind. Marigolds pop up in fun surprising sunny places all around here. It's a good thing. I also collect marigold seed to share with friends. It's so easy!

Learn more about Marigolds

Cleome seed is easy to harvest too but a bit time consuming. Cleome can become a weed self-seeding itself in every crack & crevice around. But it's such a fun plant. I got my first Cleome seed from a friend a few years ago. She called it spider plant. I had never seen it before & found it intriguing. Because it is so self-sowing I learned not to throw any of this seed to the wind. I just collect it to share with others. In spring when all the babies start growing I quick pull the ones I don't want to let grow. Cleome gets large & the roots get settled quickly making it hard to pull if it gets too big. Otherwise it's a great sun annual.

Spider Flower - Cleome

I save zinnia seed too. I love the little Thumbelina mini-zinnias. They're one of my favorite things. I pull off the seed heads after they are very dried on the plant. Some I scatter to the wind just like the marigolds. Some I stick in a paper sack to wait for spring sowing. I just go out & throw them on the ground in spring after the soil has warmed. They crop up here & there adding such bright color to the garden. Butterflies love them in summer. Some times I buy zinnia seeds too cause I love them. I always have plenty to share.

See more zinnias on the Bed 13 and Annuals pages.

This year I collected seed from Celosia Flamingo Feather. I got the seed from Burpee's. It grew great far surpassing my expectations. Next year I want to try drying it for pink / mauve color & structural shape it can add to dried arrangements. The flower spikes were 6 - 8" or more inches long. The plant stems got over 5' tall. It was fun. I have several seed heads saved in paper bags. Lots of little black seeds are falling out. I could share.

www.burpee.com

Of course, everyone saves poppy seeds. My grand children love to harvest them. They are fun & easy. I have tons to share. And Ron still saves an assortment of seeds from his little wildflower patch. We throw them in the ditch. It's fun to see what pops up. Our ditch has wild sunflowers, ditch lilies, Siberian iris, golden rod & several assorted wild grasses with beautiful plumes. It's a good thing.

www.wildseedfarms.com

Hosta seed harvesting is a big deal for me. People think I'm silly. I am! I started playing with hosta seeds a couple of years ago. I'm not serious about it. (Yeah, right!) Of all the hosta seeds I've started only 2 are of any real interest so far. I was able to give away several hosta seedlings this year that actually grew well. They were out of seed from a little hosta 'Korean Snow'. It was fun to share with garden friends.

Growing perennials from seed requires a bit of patience they are not annuals. They don't do their thing in one short season. Hosta seeds are easy to grow. There are 3 methods I use. #1 Let the seeds fall on the ground & see what happens. My daughter has tons of little hosta seedlings growing in her woodland garden. #2 Collect open pollinated dried seed. Start the seeds in the house during winter's gloomy days to ward off Cabin Fever! #3 Plant the saved seeds directly into a garden spot come spring.

About Seed and Hosta by Bill Nash

I had quite a few hosta seedlings that were doing well this summer until the raccoons got into them. They dug them clear out of the pots & dumped over my trough planters full of babies. It was discouraging. We hadn't had problems with coons before. I hate to hope for road kill but those blasted critters didn't need to ruin things around here. They destroyed my ornamental peppers up on the deck too & dug in my big cacti pots, breaking some agaves & making a huge mess. I was sad. I heard a commotion in the middle of the night when Ron went out there was a herd of raccoons partying out on our deck.

If you might be interested in hosta seeds contact me or check out the hosta seed exchange on Hallson's Garden Forum.

14 family members gathered at our house for a Thanksgiving Day feast! There was roast turkey & all the trimmings. We talked & laughed & made plans for our family Christmas party.

Wow! December will be here in just a few days.