It’s Official!

You may ask what and I’ll answer honestly there has been so much going on in my garden and otherwise it’s official that I can’t keep up! The blog posts have not been finding their way to the published world although many an idea for posts has been captured on the “To Do” list.  Drat, that us humans must sleep at night, otherwise we could pack so much more into a single day!

But today I’m at my computer with some writing juice so a quick update on all things official.

First off, I’m becoming more official! I’ve committed to the Idaho Master Gardener program and will be involved with these studies for the next 8 months. I will be learning much about growing all types of plant life in this desert/intermountain climate and I plan to share interesting experiences and information with readers occasionally.  (I’ve already learned some great stuff about improving my native soil and my composting method has improved tenfold!)

In other official news, I’ve grown and ripened my first lemon since bringing my Meyer lemon tree to Idaho. For four years, I’ve tried to get a ripe lemon from this tree that was a gift from a dear friend.

I’ve encountered a variety of enemies such as scale, leaf-miners, extreme heat, etc… that have made it a tough process.  This little tree has not been stingy with flowers but it has seemed an insurmountable challenge for it to hold on to the little lemons as they form. And then, to get one of the lemons to ripen from green to yellow has been another story.

But early this spring one little lemon formed and stayed on the tree (although it was the hottest summer in years) and in the last few weeks has turned yellow.  It’s ripe baby!  To all the naysayers (you know who you are) I told you it could be done!

Perseverance and patience…sometimes this is what it’s all about in gardening (and in life too, I suppose…)

Tomato season is officially over.  After one of the most robust tomato seasons I’ve experienced, it feels o.k. to say goodbye.  The bounty of tomatoes we enjoyed the last three months has been wonderful but it’s sort of nice to not have to find something to do with an over abundance of tomatoes every week.  Just a couple of bowls left to enjoy…

‘The Builder’ (my husband) and I are officially starting a new backyard project. With seven yards of topsoil and some really BIG rocks, we are ready to give this backyard berm a new look.

As “yard crashers” our plan is to add more depth to this planting area by widening the berm and taking out some of the steep grade. We are also moving a couple of trees that are too crowded and adding a walking path that leads to one of the edible gardens. Later on, I hope to add an arbor as an entrance to the path that will serve as a focal point too.

I’m very excited about getting a bit more planting space and I hope the overall effect achieves more visual depth to our outdoor area.  I want to get away from the current look of all the planting areas being pushed against the perimeter of the property. More on this project as it evolves…

Two more official updates – First, it’s o.k. to not have all of your bulbs planted in October!  I did write in my last local garden article (Eagle Informer) to get bulbs in the ground during the first two weeks of October. However, with more than 100 still in a box, I’m thinking November is a great month to plant.  Besides, I’m betting bulbs are not too inclined toward officialism and more towards vitalism.

Second, this is officially my 100th post!  Wow, I was stuck at 99 for a long time and it feels great to move over the hump to 100. Here’s to the next 100!

How about you?  Have you started any new projects this fall?  What have you done to increase visual depth in your outdoor space?