Hello again! Three weeks have flown by since I wrote about what’s happening at Coppertop. Along with many other folks, we are in another round of time spent at home due to COVID-19. Washington State’s numbers haven’t been the worst by any means, but our rural county has seen a rapid rise in cases this week. Social distancing, masks, and proper hygiene can help us get to a better place again — and THANK GOD vaccines are on the horizon.
I’ve been working on some indoor projects, which is just as well, since rain has made the garden soil too saturated to be stepping on or working in. The stream is raging, and the pond is filled to the brim.
ONE – Starting at the bottom of the hill, two-thirds of the way through November the veggie garden is still producing loads, despite plenty of frosts. Some beds thrive beneath their mini hoop houses. Various kales, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, chard, and carrots are welcome, nutritious meal additions. The Brussels sprouts are painfully slow to gain mass, but I’ve harvested some already.
TWO – As I head uphill, I stop to admire the last maple to shed its leaves. All the bigleaf maples, alders, and most other trees are naked now. Although it’s located down near the pond, the top of this maple is viewable from the house, which we appreciate!
THREE – Walking up to the perennial beds (squish squash), this young Cornus ‘Kousa’ dogwood is still beautiful in its autumn attire. The Rosa rugosa beneath it has gone yellow.
FOUR – The perennial beds are bordered on one edge by native plants and tress, including sword ferns, salal, Ribes sanguineum (redcurrant), and Symphoricarpos albus (snowberry). Below is a photo of part of a snowberry thicket the birds adore and glimpses of the non-native, pink Symphoricarpos orbiculatus (coralberry) also at Coppertop. It’s a pretty time of year for these Symphoricarpos.
FIVE – Along the north side of the house, an area of healthy shrubs tops a rock wall. This week a smoketree (Cotinus) and viburnum offer great color.
SIX – And this area is my Saturday project! These full-shade, northern beds contain hostas, astilbe, and hellebores that all require cutting back for a great show in 2021.
Let’s be safe. Let’s be kind. Let’s safely visit The Propagator in the U.K. for links to dozens of Six on Saturdays posted by gardeners around the world.
The rain has let up, so I’ll be on the deck enjoying the view.
Gardens at Coppertop 
Morning March ! Superb red color of the maple leaves. Are black spots normal at this season when the leaves start to drop or is there a disease?
All the cabbages seem perfectly healthy and look appetizing…
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Hi there, Fred! No disease, just plenty of rain and frost have affected the last maple leaves. š This may be the best year yet for fall veg crops, which is great since I dislike visiting grocery stores at this time. Take care.
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Your veg looks great and very healthy. I also love snow berries. Enjoy the last of the autumn colour.
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Thanks. You too, Sel!
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Lovely Six, as always. What a beautiful view from your deck.
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It gives a peaceful feeling. I look forward to visiting your garden.
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Your coralberry is just gorgeous – Iāve not seen one of those before!
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The variety of our is unknown since it predates our arrival. Now there are some on the market that bear huge amounts of berries, but I enjoy the simplicity of ours. Thanks for visiting!
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Well, here we see the “coppertop” colors! I have a baby dogwood, I think just ordinary white, and it’s looking like yours too. I was surprised the leaves haven’t fallen off at all.
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Hi Lisa! it seems the only trees that keep foliage longer than dogwoods here are Sweetgum/Liquidambar. Do you have those, too?
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And what a view it is. I too have coralberry but it hasn’t been in the garden long enough to make a thicket. The birds eat the berries about as fast as they are produced. Have a great weekend.
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Isn’t it fun to see the birds at work and at play?
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You have the most marvellously healthy looking vegetables, March. And what super colours you get during Autumn. I love the photo of the dripping berries. Happy deck sitting enjoying that view.
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Thank you, Jane. I’m hoping for clearer weather soon to be outdoors more again…
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Your veg makes my mouth water – glad you can’t see the size of my sprouts! Wonderful autumn pictures – nice that you told us what the splash of yellow is in the picture. Happy week to you!
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Soon the yellow will be dropped — leaving just some beautiful hips. Oh please share a photo of your sprouts so I don’t feel so bad! hahaha
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Wouldn’t dare – too shaming!!! Well, maybe …
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That’s a gorgeous view in your last photograph. The veg are looking wonderful. They must appreciate the protection they get from the fleece.
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We do enjoy the view out to the water. It helps us maintain a peacefulness. I’m please with the way mini hoop houses over some raised beds extend the season well.
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Such beauty in the pictures of your vegetables…and what wonderful shrubs and trees you have, enjoy your garden, and as you say let us all keep safe.
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Thank you, Noelle. All the best to you.
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Squishy or not the view must always be a highlight of your garden. I never realized how far you can see!
The vegetable beds still look so productive, that broccoli is perfect :). You would cringe to see mine. I wanted to see how things went without row covers or any other barrier to cabbageworms, and in short I won’t be trying that again. The cauliflower does look somewhat pretty as a lace-leafed form though.
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On clear days we are blessed by views of Mt. Baker across the Strait. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family, Frank!
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You have still have a good supply of veg in the garden – and – Brussels sprouts! My favourite. Especially at Christmas. š
Such lovely colour on your last maple – and also on the ground. Although the Kornus leaves are not quite as vibrant, I love the variety of different colours and shades on them, perhaps a little bit more than the maples. Perhapsā¦
What a fabulous view from your deck – enjoy the coming week, March, and stay safe.
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Thank you, Catherine. I agree that the variety of tones on the dogwood foliage are marvelous. I wish you a beautiful, peaceful Thanksgiving!
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Looking great in your garden. Happy to have the veg! Same here with the rural and staying home more as Florida will not close bars, etc…and yay for vaccine. My green beans are just starting to come in here and radishes – I also have broccoli in the garden..
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What a great thing that you’ll have fresh green beans for Thanksgiving. They’re long, long gone here. ENJOY.
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I hope there are enough!! More than 6
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Happy Thanksgiving Day to you and all your family & friends, March! Enjoy your special day.
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Is that maple #2 a red maple? Is vine maple native there? There are none here, but I would like to add some. I dislike Japanese maples.
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The final photograph is magnificent, so much so that I’d be tempted to buy five acres!
Great vegetable selection, a chara. Can’t beat home-grown edibles.
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Thank you! It is excellent to head to the garden to help determine the plan for dinner.
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