Some more photos from commentor Carbon Dated, in Manhattan’s East Village:
Honeysuckle. This gorgeous bloom is one of many flowering plants that find their way into the garden without human intervention.
The alligator’s name is Nixon. (‘I am not a croc.’) The plants are the young poppies; this pic taken in late May…
… the other, milky one taken in early September. Yes I did.
Still suffering under a dank grey pollen-laden mizzle here north of Boston, which means I haven’t had the heart to go out and deal with the last of the tomato vines yet. If I pull down the dead & blighted vines, I can probably eke another week or two out of the full-sized plants, and some years the last of the cherry tomatoes have produced into early November. Probably too late to salvage the basil plants, but I need to remember to check on the impulse-purchase oregano I tucked in with them…
What’s it look like in your gardens, on this Sunday morning?
piratedan
well my back yard needs to be mowed just as soon as my sulky teenager picks up the dog poo that has a temporary residency in my yard. Although I have to say, that the last month was especially moist for southern Arizona so a lot of the shrubs that would normally be moving to dormancy about now are still in full force.
also, since we’re kinda sorta in baseball mode, I put down a few thoughts on baseball anime on my fledgeling blog….
http://dan-piratescove.blogspot.com/2011/10/baseball-anime.html
dr.hypercube
A fall update on my bog garden. We’re a month or so away from the big enmulchification. In the meantime, I’m hoping for a little sun to help the Ladies Tresses blossom. No sun today, though.
dr.hypercube
Oh, and Carbon Dated – did you grow the poppies (cue obligatory Wicked Witch cackle) from seed? If so, where’d you get the seed (might be fun to replicate)?
Amir Khalid
Why is there an alligator (not real, I presume) in Carbon Dated’s garden? I expect there’s a fascinating story in that. Cool name, though.
With Occupy Wall Street very much in the news, I’m reading malaysiakini.com’s coverage of the Bersih demonstration in Kuala Lumpur on July 9, which they have published in print. (malaysiakini.com is a news site, not owned or controlled by the ruling coalition like the mainstream media here.)
Malaysians were once largely resigned to the Barisan Nasional’s heavy-handed, paternalistic rule, because the country was doing well enough. But that broke, in 1998, with the Reformasi demonstrations that followed Anwar Ibrahim’s sacking as deputy PM. They seemed a mere venting of frustrations, loosely organized, with no specific goals — rather like Occupy Wall Street now. But they turned out to be a tipping point in Malaysian politics. Now we have an opposition coalition that’s competitive with Barisan, who are now that much more accountable. There’s still a long way to go, but at least we’ve made a start.
Some commenters here have criticized the Occupy Wall Street for not having much in the way of concrete, immediate goals. But it has been successful, thanks to Tony Baloney, in capturing the public’s attention. Without that attention, it might not have won the support of organizations like the Transport Workers Union, which do have such goals. Liberals in the US should welcome its success and come together to build on it.
Mustang Bobby
We’re getting the first taste of cooler air here in South Florida; a sign that the rainy/humid season is coming to an end.
My orchids are enjoying the change; my phalaenopsis is slowly recovering from being out in the sun too long, and the vanda put out some tentative blooms over the summer. The philodendrons in the dish planters are thriving. I have one that I’ve had since 1982 and it’s still putting out lots of vines.
The hibiscus trees really loved getting trimmed back; they’re putting out tons of blooms to attract the migrating hummingbirds; I swear the one that stopped by yesterday was the same one that I saw at my folks’ place in Ohio in August.
bkny
better be careful with those poppies…. one of these days you’re going to be visited by those tricked out bully boyz who will tie you up, terrorize your family, ransack your home and shoot your dog.
and i ain’t talking mexican cartel or the bloods…
JPL
Honeysuckle smells so sweet but watch out because it will spread its vines and gobble up your garden. I’m working on clearing a section of my yard so next spring, so I can plant a garden.
Happy football day and may your team win.
Joe
Likewise. Another way to say “finding a way into the garden” is “invasive”. I will be spending the sunny Sundays this winter tearing honeysuckle vines off my trees and shrubs.
Sko Hayes
Everything is peaking in my garden, and fall clean up has begun.
I took down the last of the tall zinnias, which were a great stopping place for the migrating monarchs that came through in September. The morning glory vines are also being pulled up, a little late as they’re shedding seeds like my lab sheds hair. I’ll be pulling up lots of new morning glory vines next spring.
My orchids are enjoying the cool weather too, and I’m seeing some nice flower spikes appearing. By Christmas, my sun room will be full of exotic blooms and the accompanying smells.
I have some new irises to plant, and compost to spread and clean up to finish, plus I want to get some pansies and mums to welcome the fall. Work in the garden continues.
p.a.
don’t forget to take pictures after frost has done its work, especially in b&w. makes for nice, moody photos, if hung in a predominantly white room.
jnfr
I’m taking down my summer veggies today. It’s been cold at night and they’ve mostly given up the ghost anyway. We’re away to DC next week, so when I come home I’ll put in some winter shallots and garlics, and plant some lettuce and spinach for the fall. But mostly it’s season over for us.
Kristine
I left my tomatoes alone since overnight temps only dipped into the 40s. Daytime temps are supposed to hit the 70s this week, and I want the fruit to get that last burst of sun. Next weekend I may cut and bag.
I am amazed that I still have viable plants in October, which is about three weeks longer than normal. Fits with the growing season having gotten off to a slow start, I guess. The leaves are browning and speckled, but the things are still trying.
TheMightyTrowel
We’re having a brief spell of summer weather (the first since april!) so I’m drying herbs like a mad-woman – the laundry line is festooned with thyme, lavander, sage and lemon verbena. I also made membrillo (quince paste) today from the chaenomeles in our hedge.
Damned at Random
Not much of a gardener, but we harvested my husband’s (legal) medical marijuana ysterday. Oregon allows us 6 plants and these were beasts- stems were from an inch in diameter up to about an inch and a half. They’re hanging in the shed now and my Mom is spinning in her grave.
WaterGirl
@Amir Khalid: I have that alligator in my garden, too.
opie jeanne
@dr.hypercube: If you’re interested in “funny” poppies, look no further than your kitchen shelf. Those poppy seeds that you put on rolls? Guess where they come from.
We had a little old lady totter into a local garden show and plunk down a poppy bloom that was really not very pretty, but she put it in the section for herbs and medicinal plants, and then she chortled at her naughtiness while we read the tag.
You might want to read this:
http://michaelpollan.com/articles-archive/opium-made-easy/
ET
I have a gator in my yard too!
dr.hypercube
@opie jeanne – thanks for the link. I’m not sayin’ I read Pollan’s piece, but if I had I’m sure I would have found it excellent. *grin*