Dear Jack, Where's my Frost ?

First frost is usually a grim time here.  We are never ready to say goodbye to our summer garden.  This year is different.  With more than a month of regular daily rain the mosquitoes are winning.  If tonight's frost is hard enough, there will be fewer biting flying insects tomorrow.  Indian summer can begin and that is one of our favorite times to work outside.  Crisp clear air and no mosquitoes make for pleasant time outside.  We can then shed some of our layers of protection.

Ed is wearing a Solumbra long sleeved shirt and a helmet drape.  His only exposed skin is part of his face.  It is still possible to inhale a flying insect via either nose or mouth but they can access neither his ears nor the back of his neck.  With only a small area of exposed skin, his kill to bite ratio is way up.

Becky  is completely covered in white.  Her trip to the ER to have a deer tick removed prompted these precautions.  As anyone concerned with Lyme disease prevention knows, the pants tucked into the socks are a must.  Purple gardening gloves do add just a touch of flair.

Now it is time to compost the still living basil and peppers.  If we wait until after the frost, pleasant smelling plants will be transformed to slimy disgusting smelly  mush.  The sky is cloudless and blue perfect for a nice cold starry night. Come on Jack!  Let's have that hard frost or even a freeze. These *@!*# mosquitoes are just asking for it.

House Arrest

It is time to accept reality and move our tender plants indoors.  This location inside of the entry door that we never use has proven to be our best location for over wintering plants.  We have other locations with better light but the moving air currents are stronger here.  A high ceiling combined with heaters on both sides of the landing really move the air.  Since this is the best location, only the most favored plants get to spend the cold seasons here.

Three rosemarys line the left wall.  For some reason I thought obtaining a golden rosemary was a good idea.  Golden leaves look like dying  leaves so this plant always looks like it is on its way out. It's walking a thin line, because any plant that begins to look unwell loses this prime location. Two sweet bays, a tuberose, the patchouli and two lemon grass plants complete the group. Here in zone 4, tender plants get a six month sentence indoors. There is a slight chance for early parole if we get good weather in the spring. At some point these tender plants will again become the "In and Out Gang."