So this happened yesterday.
Hurricane Idalia was much diminished by the time it came over our area, and while we got a lot of rain (over 6 inches) there was very little harm done. What it did seem to do was blow out the hot, stagnant summer air and herald the arrival of our first taste of fall. Yesterday was absolutely gorgeous, with cool temperatures, low humidity, and bright blue skies. It seemed like a good afternoon to clean up the garden bed, which had gone to utter ruin in the last part of August. My husband was kind enough to lend a hand, so it didn't take long at all.
One last gleaning of peppers and cherry tomatoes: goodbye to my summer 2023 garden.
One of the banana plants finally has a bloom! Although these won't produce any fruit, the flowers are pretty enough to make growing them worthwhile just for their sake.
It's Labor Day weekend and the forecast is for beautiful weather. It's very welcome after the long, hot summer, and a nice way to kick off September. The extra day off on Monday is very welcome, too.
I need to get out there and clean up my garden but it's still so sticky and hot. Not as hot as it was, but still hot. We worked on the yard some, cleaning up from the storm and we're both exhausted now.
ReplyDeleteI do love that banana bloom.
I wish the bananas would bloom more than they do. Maybe next year I'll fertilize them early in the spring and see if that helps.
DeleteWow, you've gone through a lot since the last time I checked in. You seem to be handling it all and sailing through, though - still, I tender my best wishes for you and particularly your husband. Waiting for test results is No Fun. The end of gardening season is always a little sad, I think. Lucky you, with pomegranates (!!!!) and banana flowers coming on(!!!!) though, to kind of ease you into things. Have a great Labor Day!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the good wishes. We're still waiting on results and trying not to worry, and you're right, it's No Fun. This year I'm looking forward to fall. After the intense heat and humidity of our summers, the end of the gardening season is kind of a relief.
DeleteHappy Labor Day to you!
It is always good to get these jobs done. Hope your husband gets his results soon (and they are good).
ReplyDeleteThanks Susan. Same.
DeletePomegranates! I really do wish they'd grow this far north.
ReplyDeleteWe're probably not technically far enough south to grow good ones, but mine has a very sheltered, sunny spot and so it seems to handle the winters here nicely.
DeleteI thought pomegranates were exotica from the lands of far away. My grandchildren loved them and devoured them! How fascinating to learn they grow in your yard in South Carolina.
ReplyDeleteI have vague memories of picking and eating them as a kid. One of our neighbors had a couple of bushes that produced ripe poms, and the neighborhood kids loved them.
DeleteI picked a Pomegranate yesterday. It wasn't ripe, and didn't look as if it would ever be. I just like to see them on the tree.
ReplyDeleteThey look like giant Christmas tree ornaments on the tree! And I picked one yesterday and it wasn't ripe at all yet. I'll wait a while before I try another.
DeleteIt sounds like a gorgeous day, and you two very sensibly took advantage of it. The dogs look very interested in what you were doing!
ReplyDeleteThe pomegranate is great; I am looking forward to you telling us what you did with the ripe fruits.
Poppy's interested in everything and loves to follow us around when we're working in the garden. George has no interest in such activities and prefers to nap in the sunshine or else on the porch under the fan. :)
DeleteSo exciting about the pomegranates!
ReplyDeleteI've picked one or two already but they weren't ripe yet despite a nice red color on the outside. I'll wait a couple of weeks before I try again.
DeleteTo every time there is a season.
ReplyDeleteThat's true.
DeleteIdalia did the same to us, though I hear that low 90s are coming back this week; this morning it was 52 degrees in Camden and I was in heaven!
ReplyDeleteIt's absolutely gorgeous outside today! And even when the low 90s come back I doubt it will be as humid as it was a only a couple of weeks ago. I truly think the worst of summer is behind us.
DeleteI can't imagine growing my own pomegranates! That seems so exotic. We also have a banana that's supposed to bloom but not fruit, but we've had nary a flower.
ReplyDeleteI remember some neighbors growing them when I was a little kid. It seems like they were small, scrubby bushes whereas mine is getting tall and graceful looking--but then, I have mine planted in a sunny south facing corner of the back yard with brick walls on two sides of it, so it doesn't suffer much in the winter. I don't think they're meant for cold weather.
DeleteTim has been drinking pomegranate juice. It is supposed to be very good for slowing down his cancer growth.
ReplyDeleteI love pomegranate juice, too.
DeleteGosh, the summer went by quickly. Seems like you were just planting all of that garden and it's already done!
ReplyDeleteIt was in a state of glorious ruin by the time we cleared it out. 110 degree heat-index days don't do vegetable gardens any favors!
DeleteI've never eaten a pomegranate. I hope you get loads of them and enjoy them. It cooled off some here after the storm, too. What a relief. It was only 90 today.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
what lovely peppers! I wonder if homegrown pomegranates taste better than the store bought types?
ReplyDeleteCool temperatures and bright blue skies sounds refreshing. I think pomegranates on the tree are pretty and remind me of Christmas, red fruit and green leaves.
ReplyDelete