November is finally getting cooler, more like real autumn weather. I’ve been waiting for the right time to plant some bulbs, and finally got the perfect time. It was a cool day earlier in the month, plus the forecast was for rain for the next several days, so I could be sure all the planted bulbs would get watered in well. I gathered up the bulbs I had purchased a month before, some tools and bone meal, and set out to find spots for all of them.
I started the planting with the crocus bulbs. They are planted fairly shallow, so I put them between the rhizomes of my iris plants. Since I had divided the irises last spring, there was plenty of space. Adding the crocus bulbs will give a longer bloom time for this bed near the front door. I threw some bone meal in with each bulb. Some places I could scratch out a long trench and plant several at once.
Hyacinths were planted in a random pattern in the middle of the front bed, scattered just like nature does. I am hoping for a fragrant display in the spring.
Then I put the pale peach ruffled daffodils in the brick planter between the asters and the irises there.
Next thing I knew, looking at the planter the next morning, the bloody squirrels had dug up some. I had wanted to put some green plastic fencing over the bulbs, but thought I had another day to get it done. So, I fixed that. The fencing did keep the squirrels from digging in the bed after that, although DH noticed one sitting on the brick looking at the fencing like he was trying to figure out what to do next.
Look who stopped by, a beautiful young deer. This photo was taken through the screening from the Carolina room on the backside of the house.
Very young, likely born just this past spring, his antlers are just beginning.
His family has been eating my hostas, but I don’t mind at this point. They will die off soon anyway. I planted more crocus bulbs between the hostas. I have one little clump of them there now, and wanted to add more.
The island of land created by the circle driveway needed some color. There are azaleas there, but I have wanted to add daffodils there for some years. I planted gladiolas in this spot years ago but they never came up. I suspect the squirrels dug them up and ate them.
Bigger bulbs meant deeper holes, plus this area has a ground cover of vincas making the digging more difficult.
Down on the south side of the island, I planted more daffodils in this open area where I had some azaleas taken out a couple of years ago.
In another area of the garden, I created another stand of daffodils. All total, I planted 155 bulbs, and we will see how they do come spring.
Up on the veranda, I planted a gold chrysanthemum in the large pot next to the front door. The torenia baskets were finished, and looking bedraggled so they were taken down and the plants removed.
There was a frost in the forecast, and my tomato plant was still heavy with tomatoes. So I picked them all, and pulled up the plants to clean up the pots.
<
I put them on a plate to ripen inside. Some may never ripen, but that would be OK.
Amazingly, days later, one had fully ripened and others were looking like they were coming along. It has been nice to eat them as they ripen, and there are more to come.
Moving inside, the Thanksgiving cactus bloomed with just five blooms total. I repotted it this fall, so that might have made a difference. Here, three red and one pink bloom came out first.
One white one came out later.
A month ago I bought a white amaryllis, you all know I love white flowers. Just days after potting it up and watering it, several leaves had grown and the bud was coming up.
A few days later, the bud is getting taller on the stem.
And this past weekend, a beautiful flower is opening with the promise of three more to come.
Gorgeous isn’t it, this white with a pink blush is called Appleblossom.
Outside, the trees have come into fuller color, and the bird feeder is in full use.
Looking down the driveway, nice golds and oranges in view.
Looking over the house to the mountain behind and the very tall trees that surround us.
There is still a bit of green yet to change, but overall it is autumn here.
Here’s a look at the meadow, lovely!
I haven’t seen the turkeys in three weeks, and I think they have moved on for the season. I wish they would come back as I love watching the males fluff and preen for the females.
What is going on in your garden now?
From My Carolina Home 
Beautiful….thank you for sharing. Do squirrels get into your bird feeders? They sure ate my tomatoes!
Crystal in Cedar City
lovely plants! we have a zillion squirrels and I have never seen one dig into the ground for the bulbs and the deer do not eat the hostas either. So many people tell me they do – I do have a lot of nut trees that the squirrels devour so maybe that keeps them from the bulbs and I live in farm country so maybe the deer are feasting elsewhere and that is why I rarely see them. I don’t know but I am glad. You have reminded me that I have more bulbs to plant and should get busy with it.
It will be such fun to see the bulbs come up and bloom next spring. Fall is a great time of the year in the garden.
Hello Carole! I loved seeing and reading every part of your post this morning! I never knew that squirrels ate flower bulbs, as I have never seen them do it or had anyone say they have had that problem. Kevin and I both loved seeing the young buck. Still feel awful that I was not able to get my bulbs dug up for you, but I will send some before Spring.
Dad is still fighting to hold on, but he took another turn for the worse yesterday late afternoon and are waiting for a room in special care to open up to place him in, most likely today. I am actually holding up a lot better than I thought I would be. Have a great day!
Bloody squirrels indeed. …. them, and the rabbits, and the deer. It is a battle out there in the yard!
I am happy that you are preparing for a colorful and joyful Spring
Spring time will bring a whole heap of beauty.Down here, I have a double white Amaryllis in bloom, one stem had 3 flowers, and the single red is also in flower. I think I bought them at the very end of the planting season, when they were reduced, so I am very happy to see the stems and flowers. Bulbs in the centre of your driveway, that will be so pretty.
I’m so pleased to read about ALL YOUR ACTIVITY…..your spring will be glorious . Now, with all that exhausting energy spent, I may have to take a nap!!!
Looks like you are enjoying your time outdoors. Just imagine how pretty all those flowers will be!!!
I’m putting my garden to bed now; hubby & I have been running the lawn mower over the big leaf maple leaves that have come down; so far have carted over 20 bags of shredded leaves to the rose beds and still have lots more to go. The only bulbs I planted this year are tree lily bulbs along our front fence line. Supposedly they will grow to 3-4 ft. the first year, 4-6 ft. year the next, and 6-8 feet in the 3rd year! Sounds fantastic, so we shall see! I did buy hyacinths and crocus bulbs for forcing (currently in the fridge for chilling), as I love to smell hyacinths up close and personal, really enjoy their fragrance in the middle of winter! I’m sure your bulbs will be fabulous next Spring — definitely something to look forward to!!
We spent part of our Sunday digging up the peonies. They haven’t been blooming as much as in the past and after 30+ years I guess they needed divided. So they are split and we rototilled in compost and a bag of topsoil and will replant this week. Now I need someone to give peonies to.
Me too I planted bulbs in my little house’s garden, and now I hope for a colorful spring! Your garden looks like a little heaven every time of the year, Carole!
I missed my chance to plant bulbs, but maybe next year. Our garden is put to bed and the last tomatoes have ripened indoors. We are done canning, hurrah!
Good evening Carole,
Not much is going on in my garden. Brought in my plants when the cold spell came thru a couple weeks ago and they are going into their dormant stage so will be moving them into the spare room which
Is my double garage on the side of the house. Have been working on the left over items from my garage sale and have gathered 5 boxes of things I’m going to donate to the thrift store. At 77 I just don’t
Feel like all the work that goes into them. Have finished the blankets for the charity group so that’s about all I have been doing lately, thinking of things to make for some of the small children here on our street
For Christmas and have worked on that project so I want get into a rush later.
Have a lovely evening,
Phyllis
You will be gifted with the most lovely bulbs come Spring, Carole……hope the squirrels go elsewhere. My, you have a beautiful driveway with all those trees in glorious hues lining it. Healthy tomatoes there and your White Amaryllis is gorgeous. The Thanksgiving Cactus is pretty, too. Before you know it those bulbs will begin to sprout.
You live in such a beautiful place!!! We are harvesting the last of the basil and peppers here. And will be planting the cover crop in the next week. I think we might also embark on some simple hoop houses to cover the kale and chard. We are in the foothills of the Sierra in California at about 2500 feet. Our first frost date is about now!
Oh…and I”m quilting Scrap Dance Two Step! 🙂
Postcard Perfect photos, as always, Carole! Thanks for sharing.
Love your garden photos. I’m preparing my garden for a winter nap. I have one more potted mum that’s been on the porch stairs to plant in the rock flower, I’ve dug all the ornamental sweet potato tubers to start in pots indoors in late February, and I’ve pulled all the lily stems and they’ve been burned. Already looking forward to what comes up in the spring!
I plant in a rock flower BED…LOL!!!
You have such a pretty place. Those flowers are going to make for a nice show in the spring. I used to like squirrels, till they got in the attic. They can be destructive little critters.