Celosia Bites the Dust

 Wednesday, October 29, 2025

We had a freeze about a week ago and the celosia did not fare well. The mums and the pansies were fine. 

Cigar Time

Sunday, October 26, 2025

Cigar time.

Listened to classical Halloween playlist. 

Smoked a Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur and it was awsome. 

Sat under the Norway pine in our back yard. 

The Back Yard Today

 Thursday, October 23, 2025

This is a photo of the tree across the alley from us taken this past Friday.

And here it is today. Can you believe it lost all of its leaves in just under a week? 

The temperature is supposed to hit freezing tonight. We'll see how the celosia does. 

The kale and the mums are a bit heartier so I'm sure they'll do better with the chill. 

Dale and I were commenting on how golden the October light looks especially in the afternoon. 

I've cut back most of the rhubarb except for this one plant. It was doing the best of the rest as it had the fewest dried out stalks. 

The backyard is covered in shade earlier and earlier because Andrea's house, which is on an incline from ours, is blocking the sun. This photo was taken at 4:18 p.m.

The farthest reaches of the yard still get some rays at this time of day. 

Our silver maple in the front can take its time dropping its leaves but it's making some slow yet steady progress. 

As October progresses the shadows keep getting longer.

Today was my first day back at school in 5 months. I was there for a few hours to help with the strike vote. I really enjoyed seeing former colleagues. I celebrated my triumphant return with a cigar after I got home. 

After my cigar Dale and I headed over to The Howe for dinner. Thursday is mac & cheese night. 

Lots of Digging Today

Monday, October 20, 2025

Recently Dale removed the overgrowing grass on the back walk. 

I saved some of it that was still attached to the roots and transplanted it over by the fern garden stones where there are numerous bare spots. 

I also cleared out a bunch of the plants on the north side of the house which I think are chives. They look rather nice when they flower but they are also prolific spreaders. You can see to the right in the above picture how invasive they can be. This whole space is supposed to be lily-of-the-valley which is pictured on the left. 

The dirt between the other onion/chive plants and the hose is the area I cleared out. 

 

Friday of MEA Weekend

Friday, October 17, 2025

MEA weekend. Considering I'm not working right now I'm considering all of October is MEA month. I've been working over time on this fern garden bordering Andrea's retaining wall. The above photo dates back to October 2 and was taken shortly after I cut back the dead fern leaves. 

I cut back the overgrowth and reset the garden stones. 

I think it looks pretty fantastic if I do say so myself. 

Leaf changing update: Most trees haven't started turning except a few that are in the early stages. 

There are some exceptions which have completely changed. 

Including this one in the yard across the alley from us. 

Lit up a cigar while Dale was on a bike ride. 

He joined me outside when he got home. He said it wasn't because of the cigar he was sitting away from me but that it was just more comfortable over there. Okay. Sure. Fine. 

                      

He eventually moved closer.

We both commented how beautiful it was outside. 

It really was. 

Rainy and Rather Raw

 Tuesday, October 14, 2025

This bush of mums has really flowered since I got it. Meant to get some yard work done today but that's being prevented due to off-and-on rain. At least the plants are getting water. 

Leaves are noticeably beginning to fall and accumulate. This is just the beginning but the trees'll pretty much be bare by Halloween. 

As I write this the temp is a rather raw 53 degrees. 

These photos of me watering the flowers are actually from yesterday.

I want the annuals to look good and last as long as possible before it gets too cold. They don't have that much time left in the grand scheme of things. 

I'll plant the mums in the ground before the first freeze. I can usually get another year out of them. 

I'm keep the perennials well watered too before they go dormant for the winter. 

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