For record keeping, what follows is a running list of monthly garden activity I haven’t mentioned in journal posts:

• Sunflowers along edge of veggie garden are winding down. Not as stellar as last year due to storm damage and different varieties grown. Thinking of expanding them to southeast side of garden shed next year. early October

• Finding more shaggy mane mushrooms along driveway and near our pond. If not picked promptly, they decay turning black with spores from the bottom up. Thus their other name:  shaggy ink cap! early October

• Pulled up all beans, peas, zucchini, patty pan squash, and cukes. mid October
• Harvested last crops of cauliflower and spinach for the year.  😦  mid October
• Replaced impatiens in kitchen window boxes with johnny jump-up violas. Should last through May. mid October
• Harvested and roasted some of the last tomatoes of 2015. mid October

• Still picking dahlias! late October
• Sowed four pounds of mixed cover crop seed in veggie garden. late October

• The colors and interest of the Golden Spirit Cotinus and nearby snowberry bush, Symphoricarpos, are beautiful. late October