Cramming in as many chores as possible, as I can guarantee it'll be raining on my next days off! Mowed the lawn and was delighted to find cyclamen that have colonized various patches of lawn, probably with some fuzzy help. Repotted some stuff, potted up some new containers and planted more crocus in an endless attempt to foil the squirrels. Got a few things settled and organized for the winter, including scrubbing down and sterilizing all the bird feeders that have been stored for the summer and cleaning out birdhouses.

Generally enjoyed most of the day outdoors and in my own garden, too. Whoo-hooo!!

I spent most of the day outside too. It was so nice to see all that sunshine! It usually rains on my day off. I am starting to redo one of my large flower beds. I was removing plants I no longer want, planting spring bulbs, dividing colchicums, and planting out new plants in my flower bed. I only made a dent in it, but hopefully I will get more done tomorrow. I took the dogs for 3 walks today so they were very happy! It was so nice to be outside with all the pretty fall foliage and the late bloomers(Monkshood, cyclamen, toadlilies) and the fragrance from my Katsura tree was wonderful. I hope tomorrow is just as nice. Here's a shot from this morning. The spiders were everywhere in my garden. That is a Seiryu Japanese maple in full fall color behind it. Karen

I'm so happy for a few dry days. I was in my forest cleaning out a seasonal creek before the rains REALLY started. It had silted up and had over flowed its banks and was flowing over lawn and down path, necessitating detours last winter. I braved blackberry and salmonberry to redig its entire length 100 yards plus (on our property) with a spade about a spade's depth or so.

I mostly did this cuz it needed doing and because the farm cow milker went on vacation and our regular replacement guy was on vacation too. This meant I had to milk cows. Yikes!! I haven't milked for a couple years and my lower back and hips are killing me. However digging is Crosstraining and makes it not hurt...so much...

I can't wait for the RAINS to start to see how my digging worked.... NOT!!

... Don

I cut down an 11-year-old, prized coniferous evergreen because the plumbing contractor coming to replace the sewer line said the tree was in the way and had to go. Wanted 700 dollars to take the tree out himself. (Since there are utilities right there I left the 4" diameter stump for them). Then I went to the dump with that and other garden rubbish I had in the truck, left from a customer's place.

When I hit the dump some pretty exotic stuff goes on top of all the ivy, bamboo, juniper and laurel already there.

I actually went to an African Violet show/sale this morning, then spent the afternoon out on my balcony admiring my fall crocuses (the ones I planted by accident) and repotting some indoor plants. It was a lovely way to enjoy the weather!

Wasn't yesterday an amazing day?

I was pretty darned crabby to be invoicing in the morning while doing loads of laundry, had to go out for ingredients for a dessert for a Husky TV party last night - got my flu shot while at Safeway :)

But I had the afternoon to scrub algae off my north facing deck, deadhead rain-ruined rose blossoms, cut back some raggedly Joe Pye, day lilies, euphorbia, raked compost over some of the lawn. I dissolved beneficial nematodes and watered those in over some areas where I was finding cutworms and weevils this year - no idea if the timing was right but the expiration date on the package was 10-17 so now or never. Found a few seeds on dicentra scandens to try sowing.

I was filling a plate during first quarter instead of pre-game. Little tip - when friends are doing a driveway tailgate in October and have set up televisions in their open garage....take time to put on socks. Evenings are chilly even when the day has been nice :)

Today the whole day is mine. My birdhouses still need emptying, but I don't have a list for what I'll try to do, I just know I'll be doing it outdoors.

You guys put me to shame. I just did a little weed whacking, and ended up spending most of the day at a nursery, where i brought home four more blueberry plants and a pumpkin. :) Today i'm going to mow, and next week i'll try to finish up the planting.

I've had to work through it, and evenings and early mornings are too cold during this kind of weather to feel like doing much outside. I have today off, but I have a lot of running around to do. I'm in the market for a new (used) station wagon, so I will probably spend some time on that today.

The bruise on my palm is a souvenir from the removal of the seventh clump of pampas grass that the previous owner thought so special that he would put in multiples (eight, to be precise), even though they would drape over the deck and slice open the guests who dared to sit next to them. Nasty business, that. One more and I'm out . . . Cut down some mildewy dahlias, lifted a peony for a friend, considered where to put the new fothergilla. Perhaps I should have done the considering prior to the purchase? I'm sooo happy with the fall color on the Tiger Eyes sumac and the stewartia I planted last fall. This is just the best time of year.

Another nice day. Removed some more plants with a client in their garden (they bought a double lot with densely planted hobby garden, have different tastes and interests than previous owner). Kill! Kill! Kill! Maybe I should put a skull and crossbones on my truck.

Lots of great fall color around. Pampas grass looks good with red fall color behind it. If it continues to pop up on its own around Seattle there may be additional opportunities to see it with red leaves nearby. If your work is bruising you maybe you need different tools.

Probably I just need to adjust my pit bull technique. It's been a long process eradicating these killer grasses and my irritation is showing. Good therapy, though.

Saturday I did some planting and weeding. Sunday I went to the apple tasting at Portland Nursery. Then did some planting, weeding and moving of plants already planted.

I like the image of bboy cruising around with a skull and crossbones on his deathmobile. Kill! Kill! Kill!

But, bboy, aren't you really just digging rehected plants out of the ground? Someone might be able to "adopt" the rejects and plant them in their own garden. I hear digdig (a/k/a The Pitbull) would be happy to lend some muscle power to the process!

Another miserable, moist Monday morning, but no complaints after such a fabulous weekend,

Rain

They're ending up on the yard waste heap at the dump.