WHEN FALL ISN'T FALL



Herb Bed



Strawberries & Collards



Fall is waining and winter is well underway, but unlike our northern gardening friends, for us the time between

Halloween and Christmas 

equates to early spring. We've long since cleared last year's dead tomatoes and peppers. All those great cool weather plants are flourishing in the herb bed alongside the last few summer herbs. I love to see the basil plants happy again, even though the first frost will cut them down, leaving only parsley and collard green babies to grow on through the winter. My store-bought strawberry plant is sending out runners between the collards, so I am excited about having a February treat. I may have to install a Plexiglas cage to keep the raccoons out, but in the meantime, I'm daydreaming by my window and can almost taste the berries.

Tarragon and garlic chives are happy again, too. And to top it off, roses and bougainvillea are blooming and enjoying the cool nights and warm days.



Gated Walkway

When it finally frosts, the monarchs will have to leave the milkweed and head south and the humming birds will have to get all their nectar from the feeder instead of coral bells, pentas, flaming red fire bushs and cardinal flowers. I love providing their favorite natural foods but the upside to winter is they are easier to spot.