Turkey Tracks: October 21, 2016
Fall Color Finally Came
I had despaired, with the terrible drought we have, of having our usual gorgeous fall color. Many early-turning trees, like the ashes, just let their leaves turn brown and dropped them.
But somehow over the past few days, everything turned gold, orange, and red. The oaks are now turning a deep mahogany–they are like the bass notes in a song.
Yesterday it was 90 degrees in New York City, 80 in Boston, and in the 70s here. And it’s mid-October. There has been no frost on the pumpkins yet on my hill.
Yesterday I picked about 20 Sun Gold cherry tomatoes and harvested what will be the last zucchini. I have been waiting for a freeze to clean up the garden and plant the garlic and other bulbs. (I add daffodils and Siberian scilla every year.)
Now I have a lot to do to clean up and to winterize outside. Or it seems like a lot right now.
Last year was not a good hydrangea year. So I didn’t have any to cut for the house. This year the hydrangeas are glorious.
I cut some of the Annabelle’s, which are white and turn lime green, early on. They are on the left. The outside Annabelle’s have gone brown now.
Yesterday I went out and cut the others until I filled all the vases. I just pull of all leaves and put the stems into a dry vase. Most dry just fine, especially with this dry weather.
Here are some Pee Gees.
And lots of the blue variety:
Some years I’ve used these dried hydrangeas in my Christmas wreath.
I keep saying that I’m cutting “the last flowers in the garden,” but I really do think these Cosmos will be the last to come inside.
I found a few strays for the kitchen window:
That stone in the window is from the Bryan family mill back in the Reynolds, Georgia, area. My beloved uncle, Sydney Hoke Bryan, gave it to me when I was in my early twenties and visiting Reynolds. John and I had started a family and had two little boys 14 months apart. I don’t think I realized then how deep my rural roots were, and I am so grateful to have this time of my life where I am back among farms and farm people.
Louisa Enright's Blog 
When we moved here, discovered small hydrangea plants. They bloomed a very light pink, left them to cut in fall to dry. But they didn’t stay to cut, most petals fell off, what was left was a dead looking brown. What varieties do you plant to have blooms to bring to dry I in the fall? Our soil is very clay so assume it needs to be enriched. Thanks.jj
I’m guessing but I’m thinking you should cut the blooms earlier. I cut the white Annabelles some time in early August, when they have turned a limey green. The others–the Pee Gee whose blooms turn pink in early fall and all the blue ones–I leave until true fall comes. I don’t have any lace caps at the moment. I like the blue Endless Summer a lot as it will bloom in first year growth. Hope this helps.
Your Hydrangeas are lovely!! My one bush was very poor this year. Nothing to cut for inside.