About 80 percent of our leaves have fallen. Dear Husband has been out with his blower, moving them into piles of yellow and brown and gold. I need to browse on the subject of leaves as winter mulch. Do they need to be mowed over before they are used as a mulch, or can they be applied uncut?
The herons and egrets have gone south for the winter. October 22 was the last time I saw an egret. They might have been around a bit longer. I was cooped up in the house with a cold, so I might have missed a day or two, but that’s about the time they leave for warmer climes.
Milkweed pods have burst open, and the silks are afloat. I’ve had a love affair with milkweed pods since I was a child. One memorable Christmas, I spray-painted a number of them gold to use as “angel’s wings” on Christmas packages. That was back when I had less to do, and more energy. Those packages were really adorable! Gold milkweed pods occasionally showed up as decorations on evergreen wreaths until I realized that I like the natural look even better.
As a more mature person (snickering) I choose to collect milkweed pods and teasel and what my family called “Indian tobacco,” for large bouquets. I have a collection of dried weeds in a large ceramic pot at my front door. One of my errands this week is to get ribbon for bows for that bouquet. I need something in fall colors for this month, and something dark red, or green for December.
We still have a little bit of yard work left to do. It seems that Indian Summer may return this weekend. We are expecting temperatures in the low 60s with no rain! In addition to the last of the yard work, I’d like to finish sanding a bench, and use oven cleaner on my stove top cartridges. Cop Car……are you tired yet?? I’ll make it through the weekend, but don’t expect much of me on Monday! lol
I’m off to make binding for one of two quilts I want to bind. Bee meets Friday night, and I want to have something to work on as we chat.
Have a great day, my friends!
Arrrgh!!!
It's just my state of mind!
Buffy–You were being pretty generous in implying that my energy would have lasted long enough to read as far as your question. Of COURSE, I’m tired! Glad you’re getting so much done. (I’ve even planted a couple of bushes since I posted about planting bushes and mums.)
I don’t see why you can’t use the leaves “as is” for mulch. I don’t clear out leaves in my gardens until spring and don’t have any problems (other than they look rather dumpy until the snow flies).
Good for you, CC! I haven’t planted anything new. I bought three mums and an ornamental kale to grace the front sidewalk, but I didn’t plant them. They are in their pots, surrounded by mounds of soil, or in the case of the kale, just sitting on the sidewalk. I’m just amazed that on November 8th we still have live plants!!
Bogie, Dear Husband will send the check today! *G* He’s thrilled to hear that we can use the leaves as mulch un-cut. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if he adds some more leaves to the pile, today!