Off topic: October in the garden

I wrote earlier about my passion for cut flowers, and how much I love gardening. Now we’re entering Fall and I thought I’d give a little update.

All the zinnias, celosia, gomphrena, basil, and other heat-loving annuals are slowing waaaaay down and starting to go to seed. I’ve bagged several of my favorites so I can use the seeds next year (I had great success with my zinnias I grew from saved seed this year, and I’m looking forward to trying out some new varieties) but I’m also planning to let lots of them self-sow. This is in large part due to laziness. I know the zinnias will send up loads of volunteers next spring if I let them, and I’m assuming some of the others will as well.

I also wrote previously about my dahlias and how disappointing they’d turned out this year, but I’m pleased to report they’re actually thriving now! I couldn’t believe it either. This was my first experience with raised beds and I learned a lot. Mostly, that dahlias planted in raised beds require tons of water. Tons. Of. Water. As in, getting out there every single day and watering those beds until they’re soaking through. This year I tried some new varieties and my favorites have been: Boom Boom White, Linda’s Baby, and Ivanetti. Center Court, Day Dreamer, and Great Silence have also performed well, though I think my favorite will always be the unparalleled Diana’s Memory. I did lose quite a few tubers to rot - not the ones in the raised beds, but the ones planted directly in the ground - thanks to the fact that we had basically no rain in July, and then a deluge in August. I’m also toying with the idea of overwintering the tubers in the ground this year instead of digging/dividing, a task I usually take on around Thanksgiving. It is a lot of work and if I can make it an every-other-year task instead I would welcome the break gladly.

This is the first year in a long time that I haven’t had tulips or daffodils to plant. I love tulips dearly, but they’re pretty pricey this year and the fact that I grow them as annuals (as do other cut flower growers) means replacing the stock every single year. And for daffodils, last year I planted about 450 so I have plenty that will come back in the spring.

Other than that, I’m kind of looking forward to a break from yard work. There are still leaves to rake and mulch, perennials to move, and general cleanup, but I enjoy all of that. I love observing the changes in the seasons and the way the year’s rhythms shake out differently each year, but still manage to feel familiar.