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October 15, 2007

Tying up some loose ends

I mentioned in an earlier entry that a mysterious squash was growing in my garden, and then later identified it as a Potimarron. In the Seed Savers catalog, it stated that they grew to 3 or 4 pounds. This one weighed in at 13.5 pounds. It seems to weigh much more than a pumpkin would of similar size, most likely because the flesh is much thicker. I absolutely can't wait to make a pie with it and just cook some of it up with butter. Here it is, after I cut the umbilical cord on Saturday.

The Potimarron squash at 13.5 pounds

And next item – on Friday, our landscaper came by again, cut the edge of the bed where the new shrubs were planted a couple of weeks ago and placed the mulch on top. It looked positively fantastic. Fletcher thought so, too. He moved it all around after dark on Saturday and then, when he thought for sure that we'd all left for church, like we often do on Sunday mornings, he hopped right into a wide fresh patch of it and settled in. That's where I found him when I came into the kitchen Sunday morning. If I hadn't stayed home, I might never have known what he was dong, except for the telltale signs – his coat was full of mulch and he smelled really nice for a change. But, was he ever happy! I didn't have the heart to wake him so I took this shot through the screen.

Fletcher enjoying the sun early on Sunday morning

And finally, I took cuttings from that Persian Shield that I got when the Fantastic Umbrella Factory in Charlestown was closing for the season, dipped them in a rooting medium and hopefully started 14 new plants. If they take off over the winter in the kitchen, I'll have to give a few away. But if I can accomodate all of them and keep them alive, I'll be putting them all along the edge of the patio in spring. I saw this treatment at the garden shop behind the Provender in Tiverton last summer and it was stunning, with deep purple mature butterfly bushes towering overhead.

Persian Shield, Strobilanthes dyerianus from www.provenwinners.com

Over the weekend, I started moving perennial herbs from the old garden into the new, much smaller kitchen garden outside against the porch. I brought in rue, lavender, chives, lemon thyme, and miniature roses. I left lots of space for my favorite herb, basil, and parsley and dill, all of which I'll plant from seed in spring. I can't wait! When it's finished, or maybe I'll wait till spring, I'll show it to you.

Posted by Beth Heaney  at 11:32 PM | Permalink

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karen anne | October 17, 2007 6:47 AM link

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