Well, I think we can all agree that summer is over and fall is quickly turning to winter. I watch the snow fall outside, from my cozy chair, while I compose this article, and I must admit, I sigh a little sigh of relief that it is over. Whatever didn’t get done before our quick transition to winter began, will just have to wait till spring now.

This is the time to relax, & reflect on the successes of this past growing season, and along with that reflection, will come plans for what to do next year.

It was a particularly challenging season for most, with the unusual lack of moisture & hot temperatures, but in spite the taxing weather, I will say some successes came to light.

Cardoon, which was a plant I experimented with this season, did very well. Some of you may have noticed this unusual silvery thistle like plant in some of the barrels in Breton this summer. It seemed to thrive in the hot summer weather, and will definitely be on my seeding list again for 2010.

The tropical looking Canna also seemed to fair well this summer, seen in the Breton brick planter, as well as providing a focus in the pirate treasure chests in the village square at Pigeon Lake (for those of you who may have been there this summer.) Limelight Mirabellis also seemed to fair very well in those same treasure chests, providing some beautiful contrast color. Both will be on the planting list again next spring along with some other tropical looking plants I will be experimenting with, and some drought tolerant succulents that enjoyed the dessert like conditions we experienced.

Stay tuned next time when we reflect on what happened this summer in the vegetable patch.