Gardening to divert depression

We have a mulching bagger that attaches to our lawn tractor.  It's time to hook it up and mulch the leaves.  This year we will put a thin layer around the trunks of the oaks and pile the rest of the mulched leaves in the back of the property for compost.  In the spring we'll call a tree trimmer to take off the deadwood from the drought and save the wood chips for the garden paths. Oak wood chips last about 4 years before they have to be renewed. 

karen4u,

The drought has been terrible.  We are lucky we haven't lost any trees, yet.  I hope your mom doesn't lose any more.  I agree about gardening being the best exercise, but with the warmer summer/fall that we have been having, I just go inside and let the garden fend for itself.  I then try to catch up when the heat breaks.

Rajkumari, Congrats on 7 years!!! That is good for a Happy Dance in the Garden!  It is good to spend the day out in nature! What kind of Winter veggies are you planting?  I had banana trees where I lived 4 years ago...I still miss them.  

I also just came in from playing in my backyard "container garden".  I am down to parsley and chives in the Herb garden.  I think that this week I may plant some cool weather seeds. While I was cleaning up old growth on my Vanda Orchid I spotted a sprout that will become a flower.  It does not bloom too often, but when it does...it is beautiful! I'll share a pic with you when it opens.

It sounds like almost everyone is raking leaves.  I have a rake, but really no need for it.  My neighbor's tree sheds on the side yard, but I think I will leave it for now.  The tree (My room-mate says) is an Asian waterfall. I can't find anything on-line about it.  In the fall The tree keeps its leaves and sends out shoots that burst into tiny yellow flowers that the bees love. The bees go crazy and it "snows" bright yellow.  The flowers fall and it buds into what look like pink paper lanterns, which stay for at least a month.  It is so fun to watch. Now the pink is falling and shortly the leaves will fall.  It will be bare for several months and then it will do the flowering thing again in spring, but put out foliage as the pinks are falling. The small green leaves will stay rest of spring, summer, fall.   I am happy the tree is right outside my bedroom window, so I get a front row seat to the show. Anyone know anything about a tree with these habits?

No, it doesn't look like those.  I did some more digging and searching. This looks more like it. Has a different name...guess my room-mate didn't have the name correct.  This is called Chinese Flame Tree quite different than Asian Waterfall Tree, huh?  Not sure where he got that from??? Anyway it is really striking when it is doing it's thing! (It is messy, with all the shedding though...)

I was outside today gathering greens to make centrepieces with friends later this week. Plus spreading manure and mulch - that was a workout. But I love the exercise. I go to the gym too, but garden work is more fun and more productive!

Great idea.  I have a lot of clean up to do from late summer.  I just got a fleece pull over so I can get my fall clean up done now that all of the ticks and chiggers (small biting insects) are dead.

I didn't clean up the garden before Winter.   My brother was ill and all my energy was spent worrying about him.  Strange how that works for me but I was "frozen".  I just played solitaire.  Next week it should warm up enough for the snow to melt and I can start cleaning the garden for Spring.  I am going to try scattering Kale seed around on the first of February as a edible ground cover.  Perhaps it will keep the weeds down.  This summer I am going to plant cantaloupe and hope that those big leaves will keep down the weeds.

Any advice will be appreciated.

My grandnephew and I spent today weeding and raking the garden in preparation for Spring.  It has been so cold in Arkansas (which is in the southern USA) that the ground was frozen 2 inches deep.  We just aren't used to a cold spell this long in duration.  The night time temperatures are averaging 26'F.    At least I will be ready when the soil finally warms up.

Good luck with your garden, rajkumari.

Just more cold.  Night time temperatures still in the teens.  This is really cold for this time of year in the South.  Normal night time temps are around 35-40'F and day time temps are around 60'F.  The good news is we aren't having warm spells followed by freezing temps. That kind of weather is tough on the trees.

Gardening... Now, that's a topic I'm really into!  The gardening season is finally starting, soooo much weeding to do.  Getting the veggie garden up and running.  

the other is a close up of the patio garden..3jays

Tomatoes and herbs are the most important anyway. We're still having very cool weather here.