Still growing

Well I have largely neglected the garden in my recent weeks but I am happy to say that while things have slowed, they have not stopped. Falling leaves have largely laid a mulch that keeps everything but the plants that had a head start down. Despite a couple mild freezes, the peas are doing well, and 2 of the four broccoli appear to be thriving. I've even got a couple beets going.

I threw a couple wheelbarrow loads of compost on the north bed (that held the early crops, squash and failed corn.) and when I pulled up the stubby corn stalks I realized that they had in fact produced ears, pathetic (an unpollinated) as they were.



In other news, we are officially signing with the contractor to do the Greenhouse...er I mean sunroom...really I mean sunroom, why would I say greenhouse...tonight. We discussed potential furniture and layout for it. From the looks of things We will be putting 3-4 trees (depending on the length of whatever wicker loveseat goes in). a 6 foot and 5 foot shelf at window level for seed trays, and given that they sit at 30 inches, enough room to hang 1 or two shelves below that assuming I put lights on them. Not to mention that the wall which is the current outside wall of the house will be wide open for things like hanging baskets.

Really I meant to say sunroom...

Oh by the way, I got my shipment of wild ginger and ginseng roots from Garden Medicinals (3 each) And put them in the ground by the pawpaw trees. All three species require shade (the pawpaw during its early years) and behind the bench was a perfect spot. All three have the same native range of areas which touch the Appalachian mtns. IF these take off next spring (and I'm sure they will) they will be joined by black cohosh. I had a great deal of trouble getting cohosh seed to germinate, so I'm going with rhizomes. While not technically a guild I suppose, I am very optimistic that the area will do well. The soil in that area seems quite like a forest floor, and the combination of sun and shade angles provided by the fence and bench appear to be the perfect environment to allow just a trickle of light to the shade lovers and give full sun exposure to the sunbathers. Flanking this group to the west side in full sun in a rather large stand of purple coneflower (echinacea). While I know little of the use of the plants I have put down in this spot (other than eating ginger and pawpaw outright) It would be nice to know that should I have the time to learn how, its there if I want it. I'll be watching this area in coming years for different bugs and birds, I'm hoping that as the diversity of plants goes up in the area, animal diversity will follow. Like I said, I've been feeling optimistic as of late for some reason.