Early Winter

There was SNOW on Saturday!  How can that be? I wasn't here to see it, and it kept switching to rain so not much here. But flying in yesterday, there was clearly snow on the ground from Maine to Delaware. In fact, for several miles between NYC and Maryland, there was a clear line paralleling I-95 where there was snow still on the ground east and north, and none south and west. Very interesting to see.

Frost on the car last night - appears to be first frost on the ground as well - but only just. Not a hard frost.

Needle Drop

This happens every year. The first time I saw it I was freaked out thinking the tree was sick. This is the white pine near the driveway Scott asked me to save.






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Blooming Now: the composites

Asters and goldenrods against a full tapestry of white ageratum. Plus, the mums just started to open up.












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Turtleheads

With all the recent rain, the turtleheads are having their best year ever.







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I'll See Her in My Dreams

Irene has been and gone. Our drought is definitely over, and may have been before this latest deluge. This storm was forecast to be badder than it turned out. But of course the power is off for an indefinite period. It went off with a series of flash-bangs just after 12:30 and PEPCO isn't prepared to give any information about repair times. With 13 hours of daylight, and temperatures staying between 65 and 85, it's not that bad. Except I have an electric stove, and so that means no coffee making in the morning. I've got a thermos, and right it's full for tomorrow morning. I'll continue the pattern as long as it takes. Hauling out the propane stove is too much work for now.




Except for debris (including several silver maple branches down in my front yard) there isn't a lot of damage in the immediate block or so radius. The creek is swollen but not amazingly so.



There are big trees down everywhere and many of them took out wires. Routes through our neighborhood have to be adjusted.






Sherbert update

Break in the Drought

It rained yesterday and the day before. Both were thunderstorms, but Saturday at least was a long hard rain, not just a few minutes. The rain greened up the zoysia-- it took about 36 hours but it looks lush at the moment. It hasn't been mowed since early July, but I might have to do it this month yet.












Blooming now are black eyed susans, ironweed, verbena bonarensis, pink phlox, and a couple of brave and vivid cardinal flowers.


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Hot and Dry

This morning it was below 90 for the first time in days and I spent an hour outside, mostly on the corner. I weeded both up and down along the curve.  The weeds mostly consisted of grasses, lamb's quarters, and dandelion/thistles.  I also decided to pull out most of the dark agastache which has spread everywhere. I started the year by cutting it back rather than pulling it out, but now it really had taken over around the copper trellis and I just yanked most of it out. I am working on percentages, so gettting it all is not required. My thought is just making room for the other stuff gives them a chance to compete for resources - especially water and sun. I watered by hand along the corner as well.