Well, about a week ago now, we finally got a couple of days of heavy rain, along with an intense wind storm. Now that wind is coming from the NW and drawing in cold, Canadian air. It dropped into the mid-20's last night, and I got the electric blanket hooked up :-)

I was planning on splitting some things, like the shasta daisy and bee balm, but it was too dry, and now I think it might be a bit late. We'll see how early November goes.

Drought

I spent another hour today watering part of the garden. It has been a very long time since we've had any rain, and there isn't any in the forecast.

Today I watered the area with foxgloves on the north side of the house. That side doesn't get any direct sun, but with our warmer than average temps and no rain for a month, the plants were really water-starved. Everything started standing up straight again after the watering. However, because even the deeper ground is dry, the water won't stay near their roots for long. At least it hasn't been as hot the last few days as it was last week.

I think I've spent the whole day watering. I've had the sprinkler on the birch tree garden, in three different places, since about 11 a.m. Finally turned it off around 2:30 p.m., and just finished hose-watering the East side and front. Now Heidi is getting her turn with a trickle. It is 89 degrees out today!! Last year we had our first snow flakes on October 10th. That would be tomorrow. Crazy how October can be so different.

I planted a few new bulbs for spring --three different kinds of lilies, and a few more of the "fireworks" alliums. I put lilies behind the birdbath in the birch bed, on the edge of the privacy fence behind the liatris, and behind the siberian iris near the mudroom porch. The dirt (can't call it soil) near the mudroom porch is still like digging into cement. I add compost with everything I plant, but it almost doesn't seem to make any difference! I hope the bulbs will manage.

We desperately need rain at this point --I've been watering the thyme and coral bells planted near the front porch, but everything needs a good soaking. No rain in the forecast right now, but we've had some wonderful warm autumn days. It's hard to complain.