And it's all done for 2006.

And now, I am just about finished with my gardening for the year. All that remains is turning over the veggie plot for winter and mulching the rose garden after the ground freezes.

After a few nights of good hard killing frost the impatiens looked a sight! Plants that had been about 2 feet high the day before were nothing but a pile of slime on the ground. They're so tender. They looked exactly like what happens if you leave a bag of lettuce in the fridge way too long - somewhat recognizeable as plant material, but that's it - slimey, grey green, limp, liquified, no sign of leaves or flowers or anything. Ick.

SOOOO obviously that bed had to be pulled clear today, as well as the pots by the front door. I've also lost the hanging bridal veil that was so impressive this year, so out they all went. For now the mum is hanging on but that's all I've got on the porch.

I cleared out the impatien bed and put in the very last of the remaining bulbs - tulips at the back (which I don't think will do well, not enough sun) and a large daffodil and some woodstock hyacinth at the front, crocus along the path edge and in front. I had to dig down deep and cage all of those bulbs in chicken wire that was carefully sealed before covering them (we have a rodent of some sort in that bed who would eat the bulbs otherwise), so you can imagine what a job that was. But, it's done now! The bed is ready for winter, soaked in, and well mulched. A pumpkin or two and it will look nice until we've got good snow cover.

I watered everything well and tomorrow I think I'll shut down the outside water. The pipes will freeze soon otherwise... all week we're supposed to have a mix of light rain and snow so a little extra moisture will get to everything, but I'm done watering. I'll put away the hoses tomorrow.

Next year I need to buy a new hose attachment, and new gardening gloves. Thicker ones that can handle the Candian thistle in July! Maybe a good pitchfork too for turning soil. I'm putting them on my list.

Time now to settle in and plan for next year!