Fall is a tease

It has been 78^o for the last couple days, which is strange because we should have had our first frost this weekend. Looks like it might be late like last year (~Dec 1?).

I took advantage of the good weather and planted some more seeds, specifically Daikon radishes and Fava beans. I have a little secret that the raccoons don't know - I replanted the fava beans in the same pots they stole them from and put them up on our backyard glass table and out of their reach, and they didn't find them. Now we have these:



I have 4 pots of fava bean plants started, and 4 more look like they're about to pop. That would mean a 100% germination rate from the seeds I got from Spidra on MyFolia! Excellent. I planted more today around the yard with seeds I supplemented my stash with from a purchase from Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply.

The raised beds have about 80% of the area planted, which I think is a record for us. The longer we garden, the more we learn about timing. Although it seems my timing in life sucks...my gardening/planting timing is getting better. Sseeds are amazing little creatures, they will plant and sprout themselves when the time is right. Sometimes we need to listen to the rhythms of Mother Nature.



A list of items planted in the raised beds //deep breath// here goes:

Beets
Garlic
Carrots
Spinach
Radishes
Broccoli
Pak Choi
Swiss Chard
Potatoes
Peas - which the roly polies keep eating my seedlings. Drats.
Leeks
Torpedo onions
Parsnips
Mache
Lettuce
Greens
Turnips

I'm sure I forgot a couple. Oh well. While this garden won't provide a substantial amount of our daily food, I am hopeful that with each passing year we get better at plant placement - the journey is the reward.

And of course, I can't leave this post without sharing the magic that is our backyard Maple tree. it is amazing right now. I opened the curtains in our bedroom and the light shining in was red, reflecting from the Maple! Very cool.



Click on the picture to find links to the full size shots of each one of the pictures.