By Zelpha Boyd
The snow is falling, the leaves are falling—must be Fall! It’s a good time to take inventory of what worked in the garden this year, what didn’t, and what to do better next year. This year was quite unusual (aren’t they all?) with the rain early on, then the very hot days. For me, my garden did its thing, doing what it wanted. I’m learning to not stress and structure, but rather to let plants grow as they will. The main difference in my garden this year was that I acquired a dog. She pretty much stayed on the paths so really didn’t interfere with the plants.
However, Lily, the beagle mix shelter puppy, 8 years old, ate all the strawberries! Later, as the cherry tomatoes and ground cherries ripened, she helped herself to those also! Next year I’ll cage them. My tomatoes didn’t do well this year, for whatever reason. I’ve seen tomatoes growing abundantly in several locations. Those doing the best were in Earth Boxes. The constant watering system provided is probably the reason. That’ll be my early spring expense for next year. The raspberries did really well—I had a bumper crop of berries. Early this fall, I cut out all the old canes and renewed the bed. Next year, I won’t have as many plants or berries. The asparagus is in its third year, so it’ll begin producing in the spring. Most perennials did well. The rose bushes, particularly the Winnipeg Parks, out did themselves and are still blooming under the recent snow. Those annuals, planted as seed, didn’t do well. Next year, I’ll buy already growing bedding plants. Those reseeding themselves—calendula, cosmos, larkspur, orach spinach—always do exceptionally well.
Next year I’ll again grow—or try to grow—sweet peas. They did so well two years ago, but I wanted to put them elsewhere. So back they go to where they would like to be—location, location… I’m rethinking the rain gutters and barrels. Seems like all that wonderful water just goes to the barrel, not on the plants it would have gone, naturally, had I not put up the gutters (just the like the government, gathering all the money, then redistributing). Why not leave well enough alone and let that water stay where it falls and do its thing, naturally? I’m fulfilling my dream of having lots and lots of daffodils. This year a friend let me help her dig several boxes of the golden treasures, and I planted some in every blank space in the back and front beds. As they grow and needed to be divided, I’ll have even more! A drastic move was made when I removed the overgrown Spirea from the front yard. I had been cutting it back, every year, which seemed to encourage it to grow more. Now it’s gone and I have space for better preforming perennials (and more daffodils?). I know I have to write down all the blunders, mistakes, and successes to help me remember next spring what worked and what didn’t. I’m really grateful for the harvest of vegetables, flowers, fruits, and beauty my garden provided. May it be the same for you. •
