Still Fall

I feel compelled to produce evidence that it is indeed fall here and not the dead of winter yet.

Yes, the days are shorter and we tend to experience snow "sprinkles" rather than rain - but it's fall. Taking walks this time of the year tends to be interesting for wildlife spotting. It's easy to spot deer and squirrels in the trees without the cover of leaves to hide them. Surprisingly I haven't really spotted rabbits near the house this fall.

In the morning any little bit of water tends to be frozen, but the river is still flowing.


Just a few leaves left in the yard. We did get a great day over the weekend to clean up most of the ones that fell in the front yard. The back tends to stay fairly leaf free on its own.


This brings up one question I have been pondering lately - do I need to clean up my leaves? I have vaguely heard somewhere that if you have a fine type of grass that too many leaves will damage it over the winter. I wonder how much is too much...which begs the question, if grass really isn't suited to where it is (under trees) what is better...

Highs: near 32 F

What is Quiet?

That's the question that came to me the other night as walked outside and noted how quiet everything was. It might have been the late hour - everyone was home from work and the sun was set. It might have been the rain - every sound seems to become dampened in the wet. Finally I knew what it was....there was no wind!

I had become so used to the blowing and rattling of leaves and branches that it was so different for things to be very still and calm.

As timing and luck would have it I am making a post with snow again - get used to it because it will become more common from now 'til spring. The snow we had before did disappear - really.


We are on the lucky side of things...no blizzard with 50 inches here. Just rain and now a small amount of snow.


There are some awards for plants that have stayed around longest through the frosts...raspberries (can't wait 'til next year when we get to harvest them).


Curly parsley has proven fairly hardy as well.


The swiss chard near the house has also survived.


Thanks for stopping by and let me know...how to you know when it is really quiet?

First Snow 2008

I will call this our first snow of the season...with a howling wind, we received a bit of snow that is sticking around for the day. I'm sure by tonight it will be mostly gone. Next week is supposed to have some pretty nice days, so this will not last - but it's a first look.

Dakota was not too excited yet...


Snow covered most of the plants today - I think many will suffer from the snow and overnight freeze.


A few days ago it was rain we had, and the last late flowers were still trying to race the freeze. I think some have missed their deadline to produce seeds...


The sunflowers did produce, and birds are happy

It's Fall...

...And I am falling behind in my garden updates. I will try to make some posts even into the winter, but as you can tell I have slowed down a lot from Spring.

This time of year the garden is moving into hibernation and the weather is turning. The fog above is my breath Monday morning - our first frost to hit the car windows. We've had a couple light frosts, but this was the first I had to scrape from the windows.

The grass was highlighted in white, although many protected areas did not get condensation this time. Today many very tender plants like Basil and Tomato have been killed. Many hardy and semi-hardy plants are still fine.


Ah, the autumn...the last warm sunny days are great with smell and sounds of fallen leaves.


The sound of little paws crunching though the many piles brings a smile.


The Red River of the North had a late flood this year with a very wet September.


Just last week the river was about 7.5 feet above flood stage - enough to cover no parking signs on the low roads. If I recall this was close to a record for fall. Today it is below flood stage until Spring.


Well that's my update - now I need to visit all of my bogging friends out there.

The Little One

Okay, by popular demand this post includes a picture of our new addition.

These two get along pretty well - like sisters.


They love sitting in the yard and finding new things...here is a Monarch that decided to hold on here.


The aster is starting to bloom...once it's a mass of purple it looks great.


A late planting of seeds has filled in.


The adventurous dogs wanted to come with on a second visit to the grasslands...


Some great views again...


Also a bit of the insect life...this moth really caught my eye. I almost ran over this spider walking - having haven't seen ones like this in the yard.

Late Summer

Here's a late summer update of my garden...The bees have appreciated the sunflower blooms I have in the garden. Some of the plants look nice and others look a little worn.

Here the bumblebee is sharing with the smaller bees.


A pretty shot of the ornamental.


A giant edible sunflower...


The head is large and heavy on this plant. In the background you can see the 13 foot tall reaching to the sky.


Swiss chard is still growing just fine.


Our prized spaghetti squash - well it's our only one of note right now.


What do you know, my stunted cucumbers do have some fruit!


This is strange - we have June bearing strawberries and there are few scattered berries for the fall.


We obtained two varieties of rhubarb early in the summer. Next year we should have a good harvest. Not sure which will taste better...I like the red look better.


The parsley and basil...the dog and puppy couldn't resist getting in a shot. Dakota is a very nice big sister to our new miniature Dachshund puppy (10 weeks old) in the lower right.


A strip of marigolds that worked out.


The aster is just starting to bloom...


Some things are still waiting...


Here's a shot of my "hidden" sedum...


This plant is past it's prime, but I always like it in bloom and it has great leaves.


Well that's my update...seems that this time of the year is my slow blog season (well lazy blog season). Thanks!

Sheyenne National Grasslands

Well, it's been a while...again. I could write a post about how well the carrots are this year, the kohlrabies that were okay, and the three great tomatos. I could show how disappointing the bush cucumbers where (none) or the couple squash that grew (wonder if it was the squash borer?). There are many great blooms that have presented themselves, like our 13 foot tall sunflowers! And of course the various missing Sunday Safaris (I still have been looking at them).

But today I will write about my overnight hike in the Sheyenne National Grasslands of North Dakota, which is part of the Dakota Prairie National Grasslands organization. Primarily I followed the trail segment that belongs to the North Country National Scenic Trail....a hiking trail in progress that reaches from North Dakota to New York. The grassland trail used to be 25 miles end-to-end and is now about 30 miles. I had planned to "yo-yo" the route and have my wife pick me up at the drop off point, but 1) I planned for the 25 mile route and 2) I haven't conditioned quite enough to make a 30 mile a day pace. I took a 23 mile and a 13 mile day.

The grassland home to the threatened Western Prairie Fringed Orchid and the ND population of prairie chickens (grouse). Apparently you can also find Dakota Skipper and Regal Fritillary butterflies at the right time of the year. I plan to return when I can spot these.


Apparently we are to be on the lookout for invasive weeds: purple loosestrife, saltcedar, yellow toadflax, and spotted knapweed.


The grasslands were really great and gave me a new perspective on my gardening goals as well. I mean, even when we "work with nature" in the garden we really aren't out to totally reproduce it (at least that what it seems).

This gives an idea of the trail surface and the marker posts for the North Country National Scenic Trail.


Close-up of the NCNST symbol.


Many "self-closing" gates blocked off sections for cattle grazing. You had to be a little quick to get through before the spring bounced the gate back.


The windmills were the main water source in the area. At least the water is pumped from a pipe in the ground.


These hills were painted red.


This is the rolling hills area...


Know what this is?... It's a red ant hill.


There's varmints out there...


I think it's a prairie chicken feather.


Was this an omen or something?


This is little guy was crossing the trail as I was nearing the end of the hike.


A small stand of pine didn't quite fit in, but it was a welcome cool from the hot prairie on the second day.


The flat prairie section, can you spot the "evidence" of cattle in this section?


Great grass view.


A bridge in the grassland.


The dew on the grasses gave an interesting look in the morning. Not a great experience to hike in wet shoes. Now I know what to plan for next time.


A marker at the west trail head.


Here are a few plant shots I took while hiking...

How could I miss a prairie rose in the prairie?


These are the sumac (I believe) that gave the hills a red color.


Some flowers...notice the sandy condition of the soil. This is why the land never worked for farming and one reason it is federal public land now.




It was a bit of an adventure that let me test the hiking waters - it wasn't the middle of nowhere, really. I could get phone coverage on hill-tops standing still. Any direction was only a few miles to a road that would lead to a town within a day.

A great hike and excellent conditions for late summer. Day one was overcast with little wind and no rain. Night was crystal clear with bright stars visible - something you don't get in town. It was a bit chilly at night, but I was toasty in my sleeping bag. I could hear sounds of wildlife including coyotes.

Human influence could still be seen...some windmills and fences. Disappointing to see a couple of beer and soda cans on the trail. At first I was upset to see all the "evidence" of cattle in the various sections - but then I learned that the cattle perform a role similar to the bison of old.

Thanks for walking with me!