Deck - End of Day Three

The basic deck is finished.  The steps and a corner plant stand are still to come.

As a bonus, we had Jeff's nineteen-year-old helper to dig out our asparagus bed.

Deck - End of Day Two

After Jeff removed the old deck, he had to rent a jackhammer to remove the concrete ramp at the back.  Then the base went in, with the help of Ben. 

New Deck

Yesterday work was finally begun on our new deck.  Here's the old version.

By the end of the day, here's what was left.

Apple Tree Pruning

This year the columnar apple trees had gotten too tall and the branches were so long that they were bending under the fruit.  So I decided it was time to cut them back and make them columnar again.

I cut the side branches way back and topped the trees as well.

I also cut the nectarine way back.  Now we'll be able to reach any fruit and hopefully we can control the stink bugs.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Things have turned quite wintry.  We had our first freeze a couple of nights ago.  I've covered the dahlia bed with two big bags of leaves, then laid plastic sheeting over the whole bed. 

All the greens and root crops are still fine.  For Thanksgiving I made a potato leek gratin, with everything from the garden.  It was yummy.  Today we had white bean and kale soup. 

I still have lots of weeding to do, but right now it's too cold. 

New Herb Bed

Today I dug out all the raspberries to take to Dave and Marna.  Then I fertilized the bed and planted a row of garlic.  Next I moved my herbs from against the back of the house into the new bed.  I now have sage, parsley, marjoram, oregano, thyme, and chives.  Next spring I'll put in some dill.  Maybe something else, who knows.

I also dug up the Beckyberries, boysenberries, and four blueberry bushes to take to Dave.

Super Rutabaga!

Today I pulled my first rutabaga, to add to the soup stock pot.  I don't think the others are this big.  It must have hit a concentration of fertilizer. But even so, it wasn't at all tough or woody.

The last of the three beds has been taken out.  I pulled out the remaining beets and carrots. Now I just have to figure out how to remove the asparagus.  Even with a shovel, I can't budge it.  Maybe after we get some rain it will be easier.

I've transplanted all the dahlias into the bed the tomatoes had been in.  This will be a bed for cutting flowers.  Next spring I'll put in lots of annuals.

And the parsnips have finally all sprouted.