I picked several pumpkins today. Elinor came to help me with those too but was disappointed because I wasn’t pulling anything out of the ground. None of the pumpkins this year have been large but they are many so that almost makes up for their smallness. I picked more cowpeas too. The frost has nipped the edges of their leaves but the plants are still going. No new flowers any longer but there are still a large number of bean pods fattening up. I noticed some of the fava beans have small pods on them. I wonder if they will live long enough to ripen or whether I planted them too late? I will find out soon enough I am sure.
Some of the plants on the green roof did better than we thought they had. When the flowerbed is above your head, you don’t pay as much attention to it as you might otherwise. The little aster we planted is blooming pretty purple flowers that the bees like. The creeping thyme has spread and is bushy and smells so good. The pasque flowers are holding their own and hopefully they will bloom in spring. The hens and chicks are doing okay too. In spite of the aster’s success, the low growing spreading plants have done the best, something to keep in mind in spring when decidinng on additional plants for the space. Today we planted species tulips and crocus on the roof. They are supposed to bloom together in spring. The crocus are dark purple and the tulips are orange and will make a pretty combination. Fingers crossed the squirrels don’t dig them up and the cold winter doesn’t turn them to mush.
The squirrels are busy busy busy right now. At any given time I can look out into the garden and generally see at least two or three. The Dashwoods don’t pay much attention to the squirrels though if one gets too close they will complain about it. The squirrels for their part keep a bit of distance most of the time.
There haven’t been rabbits in the garden all summer for whatever reason. Earlier in the week the Dashwoods were out and about and all of them began making a fuss. I hurried to see what was the matter. They had all flocked over by the raspberries and were looking toward the path down the middle of the garden where sat a very large rabbit. The rabbit was completely unconcerned with the Dashwoods, but the Dashwoods were not okay with the rabbit. They had never seen one before and didn’t know what to do. Once I had chased the rabbit out of the garden they calmed down and resumed their bug hunting.
I rode my new bike, Carter, outdoors yesterday but it was only a short transportation trip to the tattoo studio for a new tattoo. Since it is bike-related it seemed only appropriate to ride over. Good thing the weather was decent! It took 2 1/2 hours and I zoned out for most of it, listening to the music that was playing and the buzz of the tattoo gun. There were a couple rather sharp moments when I was startled by how much it hurt — closer up behind my knee and when she was using a smaller needle for detailing. But it turned out great and I now have a unique tattoo of flowers whose centers are bicycle chainrings. I love it and look forward to showing it off next spring and summer at a number of races.
Love the new tat!
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Thanks Elle!
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The tattoo is art! Love it. Oh did you post a picture of the new bike? I must have missed it. Glad you are enjoy your new wheels!
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Thanks Iliana! Yup, new bike picture was posted last weekend. She’s great!
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I bet sweet potato vine would look pretty trailing down off your chicken roof.
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Jeane, I will keep that in mind come spring! Thanks for the suggestion!
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ooohhhh!! I love the new tattoo! Super cool! I am kind of afraid of the hurt that a tattoo entails and never ventured into one!! But I do love yours, especially the chain-rings!
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cirtnecce, thanks! Oh it hurts, but it isn’t an unbearable hurt and after a little while it kind of all goes numb. If you really want a tattoo, don’t let the prospect of pain keep you from it!
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That is a lovely tattoo, very colorful.
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Thanks Joan!
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Elinor sounds very helpful. I would love such company while gardening!
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buried, Elinor is a little too helpful sometimes! But she does make great company.
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For all reader our there, I also found another blog like this, do give that a try. I’m sure you’ll find that interesting too
http://www.thecottonscorner.com/
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Thanks Ahmed!
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Cool tattoo–did you see one similar somewhere or is it your own creation? It seems like it would take much longer than a few hours to make, so you have a very skilled artist! What will you do with your pumpkins? Are they for carving or eating? I love pumpkin but strangely I am not sure I have had one pumpkin related treat yet this fall!
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Danielle, thanks! I have not seen anything similar. Basically I told my artist I wanted bicycle chainrings turned into flowers and she she came up with the design. She is a cyclist too so we had an affinity 🙂 Pumpkins are for eating! Carving them is just a wast in my opinion!
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Oh, that’s amazing! Putting bike wheels at the center of flowers is SO YOU. Love it!
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Thanks Jenny! My artist did a fantastic job.
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Love your new tattoo!
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Thanks Carolyn!
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I missed the new bike post too. Will go find it. I had two trips to Sydney, one 6 days and one 2 on estate business, and then an overnight getaway to the southern highlands with a girlfriend, from late September to mid October and that has rather set me back. I’ll catch up though.
Love the roof garden…and look forward to your colourful bulbs next spring, not that I’m in a hurry as I want our summer to last a while.
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I suspected you had been up to something! you are a busy woman! I hope you had a nice getaway with your friend!
Hopefully the bulbs will survive the winter and we will figure out some additional perennials that will thrive up there!
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I had a lovely getaway with my friend. Just what the doctor ordered in fact.
The bulbs will be fun to watch come up.
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chainring – flower – tattoo – very – cool !
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