September turns to October

September dawns just like another summer day.  The gardens are still quite lovely, though they have a bit of a bedraggled look too.  This is because we let so much go to seed, for collecting in the fall.  I think this is one of our favorite times of year, actually.  We all love to dig in and collect the summers bounty, from harvesting veggies to finding the tiny seeds that will become next year's summer flowers.  

As September draws to close and turns to October our focus changes to putting the garden to bed for season. This included spreading cover crops and putting down fresh cedar chips to lessen the mud from the coming winter rains.  

If you didn't have the opportunity to stop in this year to see us that's okay! We will be busy this fall and winter getting things ready for another season next year.  

Zinnia's and Four O'Clocks greet visitors on the pathway to the gardens 

Collecting Seeds from the Four O'Clocks is easy! 

Rose hips from the Multi-flora rose.

Broom corn (above) is almost ready for harvest.

Hops on the vine 

Colorful leaves on the beets 

Over-ripe cucumber (left) to harvest seeds from.  And cute little cukes and carrots to munch on.  

Leeks! 

Garden Spiders are everywhere this time of year. 

The Cleome is still blooming brightly. This photo was taken on the 3rd of October. 

Newly laid cedar chips, and the newly re-planted Herb Garden.  It was past time for some thinning and shifting of the plants.  Once the rains begin is a good time for moving and dividing perennials.  

Rosemary is blooming now. 

Cover crops planted just a week ago are eager to get to work!  

A sunny weekend in August

We had the opportunity to welcome visitors to the gardens in August when the Three Rivers Artist Guild held their summer show at the Interpretive Center.  

We were on hand to give tours of the gardens, and to answer any questions about home gardening.  In all we talked to about 30 people!    

Orach seeds in the sun

Zinnia's and 4 O'Clocks welcome visitors to the garden. 

Cardinal Climber vine is filling in nicely. You can see the art fair booths in the background. 

Hops is ripening on the arbor. 

Look at the size of this Boston Marrow Squash! 

Zinnia's! 

Our booth.  It was a great way to spend a few hours on a sunny weekend. 

An August morning in the garden

We had some cooler weather these past few days. Working this week has been nice, and the gardens seem to like it too! 

We never seem to tire of watching the seasons unfold, the calendar told by the plants in the garden.  At this point many of our flowers have seeds ripening on the stalks.  The veggies are being harvested and the ones left to seed are beginning to ripen too.  We all recognize the beauty in the blooms, and the fruits in the garden.  But since working in the Pioneer Garden I  appreciate even more the wonder and beauty of the simple seeds.  Because without seeds, there would be no annual vegetables like carrots, corn, beets, squashed, lettuce, cabbage ... well, you get the idea! 

Come visit us on Saturday and Sunday, August 13 and 14.  We will be in the gardens ready to answer your questions as part of the Oregon City Festival of the Arts.  (click here for their flier) 

Hollyhocks 

Sweet Peas

Two of our roses bloom during the summer, and you can find the fruit of the roses aka Rose Hips on the others if you look closely. 

Scarlet Runner beans 

Calendula seed heads forming. 

I got this wrong in my last post.  This is a bloom from our Leeks.  The seed head is much larger than the ones on the onions. 

My favorite seeds, I think because they are so tall and colorful.  This is from the Orach/Spinach. 

Seed heads forming on the beets. 

Stepping back to look, you can see the Orach and Broom Corn towering over the garden.  

How the garden grows: July

Summertime in the garden is hot, there is lots of work to keep up with the weeds and the critters that lunch and much on our veggies.  All the same, none of us would trade away all that effort in a million years! With the work comes the rewards; produce and seeds to share, flowers and lovely plants to admire and the fellowship we are given from working together on our little demonstration garden.  

Here are a few snapshots for you, from July.  

From the back of the garden, the Kent Golding Hops have filled in and promise many blooms again this year.  

Sugar Peas blooming. You have to get up close and personal to see the beautiful blooms. 

A sunny favorite: Calendula. 

The color scheme of our veggies seems to be red and green!  

If you peer into the center of the stalk of the Fava Beans you will catch a glimpse of the delicate blooms that will become yummy beans later this season. (with the help of our friendly pollinators) 

Purple Mountain Orach seeds; just one of the many plants we allow to go to seed.  

This Boston Marrow Squash looks like it's ready to pick, but by the end of the season it will be very large, and the color with be a dark orange.  

This is our Cardoon.  Sadly, some moles loosened the roots so she is lying on her side.  That hasn't stopped her from blooming, or the bees from visiting! 

Borage with Evening Primrose in the background. 

The Daylilies never disappoint! 

Love in a Mist looks so lacey in the bed along the main pathway. 

The China Rose is blooming well this year. 

Black Seeded Simpson lettuce forming seed heads. 

Early Jersey Wakefield cabbage.  Such an impressive vegetable! 

Love the globes of the Red Weathersfield onions towering over the garden. 

Sweet Hollyhocks.