Fresh Raspberries in October
This past weekend I harvested my first berries from the ‘Caroline’ canes I got from Nourse Farms last year. Caroline is described by Nourse as “this raspberry has a larger berry than Heritage and is more productive, with a rich, full, and intense raspberry flavor. It is a very vigorous variety, with more tolerance for root rot than Heritage. The farther south you grow it, the earlier it will ripen. Caroline is widely adapted, growing everywhere from the East Coast to the West Coast. This variety does not tolerate high heat and drought.”
The deer browsed them heavily this past winter and we had a hot, dry summer, so I was worried I wouldn’t get any berries at all. It looks as if we will get a decent little harvest this fall. I really wanted a raspberry that produced in the fall so it was ripe when the rest of the garden was waning. These are perfect and are coming on just as the summer garden bounty is drawing to a close. We’ve enjoyed every single berry and look forward to harvests for years to come.
Do you grow raspberries in your garden? Any favorite varieties to recommend?
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Purple Annuals
When it comes to flower colors, purple and lime green are my favorites. This spring, I purchased a lovely purple alyssum and this other lovely purple flower (I’m blanking on the name of it right now).
Both of these beauties have been blooming profusely since mid-June, well worth the few dollars each I paid for them. The only thing I’m not super pleased with is that believe neither produce any kind of nectar or pollen for the pollinators. Typically alyssum does, but it seems this variety may not. While I do enjoy them, I may look for something next summer that will not only look beautiful, but also produce food for the local pollinators.
Have you tried any new annuals this year? Have you discovered any new favorites?
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Back up and Running
My computer died two weeks ago, which prompted the ordering of a new one. That took 10 days or so to arrive, which meant I was working with a skeleton crew for a few weeks. My new computer arrived last Friday and Mr Chiots got it all set up and running. I’m once again able to download photos and do all my work. Here’s a look at what happened in my garden over the weekend.
With temperatures hitting the mid-thirties on some evenings, it’s time to clear all the peppers and tomatoes. The lettuces and fall brassicas are doing great, it will be a race to see if my fall broccoli head up or not. Fall crops are always a gamble, they usually do well, but some years winter comes extra early and there is not much of a harvest.
How’s your garden coming along?
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Watermelon and Computers
My computer is still down, in fact, I’m waiting for my new one to arrive (they say Thursday *YAY*). Until then, for ease, I’m using phone photos and my laptop. I harvested this beauty the other day, it wasn’t quite ripe, but it was still delicious.
I’ll be so happy when my computer shows up and I can get back to work. Until then, I’m using my time to paint the dining room (photos of that when I’m back up and running at full speed).
What are you doing this week?
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New Decorative Feature
I purchased this armillary years ago, but never had a stand to put it on. Earlier this summer, we had some pieces of cedar left from making raised beds, so I whipped up this stand to put it on. I’m happy to finally have it in the garden, getting rusty and looking great. It’s probably been sitting in my garage for 15 years.
It’s covering up our well head, which it nice because now it’s a feature and not an eyesore in the middle of the yard.
It’s not super tall, about two feet. I surrounded it with marjoram, next spring I plan on digging it up and replacing it with calamint so it’s a bit shorter.
Have you added any decorative features to the garden this summer?
