Fall is here

The Sacramento area's typical first frost date is November 14. Last year it was December 1. This year it was November 13.

It was a light frost which really didn't do any harm to the garden as far as I can see. I can tell it's getting colder because in the last 3 days all of the strawberry foliage has started looking like this:




My tomatoes and basil are still going strong, but the raised beds garden is protected by a tree and receives the reflected light off of the stucco on the house. It takes a really hard freeze to end the season on that side of the house.



One of the chores this winter will likely be to remove this large bed pictured on the left. It receives far too much shade to be productive, and I've noticed the tree roots are beginning to get into it. At least we'll have lots of soil to augment other beds now.

The Tupelo tree is always a sight in the fall. It just seems to glow.