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ATTENTION!!! Please do not steal my content! ALL of the content on this page is property of Tootsie Time is not to be copied and used elsewhere unless with the expressed permission of Tootsie! There have been a lot of my photos found on various websites and none have permission. Removing the watermark is not permitted under any circumstances. My work is MINE to share, and should never be seen with someone else's name attached to it. That is stealing!

:)

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Not Everything About Fall is Pretty!

Susan over at A Southern Daydreamer invites us all to share our outdoor adventures every Wednesday...for details and a list of the others joining in...click her logo above.
Fall in Alberta is NOT always so pretty. Yea sure...there is the beautiful colored leaves...the slightly cooler tems and all the wonderful warm colors, inside and out...that's just a fraction of what happens here in Tootsie's garden...
NOTICE: IF YOU DO NOT LIKE THE COLD HARD TRUTH ABOUT FALL IN ALBERTA...TURN AWAY NOW!!! Things in this post are about to get UGLY!
Frost has hit my yard... well ...Frost and damaging winds.
Things just look awful!
Ewe!!! Do you see it?
Oh Shelia!...stop screaming!!! you silly thing! It is just frost damage! Looks like a fire burned it doesn't it? She's such a "sweetie"
That once huge swedish ivy is now a shriveled mess....but the Mums made it! Betty's bike bed...looking like it has a LOT of miles on it...
Better get busy...we have a LOT of things on our list today....
After a lot of effort, and 6 garbage cans of pulled flowers....this bed was almost done...just needs some weeding.
You can't see all the damage in this photo...but the plants are finished....once they warmed all the way up...they were quite wilted and sort of soggy from the frost.
They made it to 7 feet tall....did I mention that at the time this photo was taken, the wasp infestation that has taken over my yard were "sleeping in" here? It was about 8 AM when I started...and it was too cold outside for them to fly so they were really docile...Quick...before they wake up....Yank em!
whew! ...that was close...still can't cut the Peony...they started to wake up! There are hundreds of them in the yard this year...I think they live at the "bad neighbor's" house...(more on that in a couple days)
I pulled the entire yard today...and it took 3 loads ( heaped high and tarped down)with the 1/2 ton truck to get rid of it at the local dump! That would be the equivalent of about 50 garbage cans....not to mention the 18 that I set out over the last couple weeks...(I suppose it saves me from the piercing eyes of the garbage man) hee hee. The local dump has a special area for yard waste where they turn it into beautiful compost over the winter. I will be going in the spring to buy it back as beautiful black gold!
It certainly looks different! All that's left is the weeding...
Seems so cold and lonely now...sniff sniff...
Still need to pull the birdbath out for the winter....it needs some repairs...
I got the sidewalk cleaned up a little bit- BEFORE I broke the pressure washer...darn!
Cut down the two huge hostas....
Clematis will get cut to the ground in the spring...it seems to grow better if I leave it over the winter...
Cut the columbine...the two hydrangea are still blooming!!!
Seems lonely out here too!
It just looks so dirty!
Yep...the local cats are all cheering out loud....their litter box is empty!!! (I will catch them this year..I swear it) lol
Well....that is one thing off my list...right? Tomorrow we will wipe the rest of the list out...right?????
And now...my bones are aching...so I am heading for the tub...see ya tomorrow!

36 comments:

erin's art and gardens said...

wow!! looks like you did tons of work! hope you are composting some of your debris? have a nice soak...you deserve it!

Anonymous said...

Oh, Tootsie! I'm not screaming I'm crying! Poor poor yard and flowers! But you'll do this all over again next year. You'll grow your pretty flowers in that fab green house and then we'll come and look at it again and again! You are an inspiration!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia :)

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Wow - You did do a lot of work. I sure hate to see the beautiful flowers go. What I have left is getting sorta sad looking.

Four Paws and Co said...

Oh no! You're beautiful yard... sniff sniff.... It's so sad to see it go. Couldn't you wait a bit before pulling it all up? (I'd be terrible at having to pull it all up when the flowers are still there.) ♥♥♥ Diane

kclily said...

Girl..you are a work horse. I got tired just reading this..lol. The black shriveled leaves will be here in about 6 weeks. Hope you enjoyed your soak.

Blondie's Journal said...

Wow!! I can actually see your house again!! You must be dead tired and really sore on top of it. Try epsom salts in your bath~it rally works!!

So...were all the flowers in your gardens annuals?? I mean, they weren't coming back next year. I thought some were perennials, well, at least the 7 footer was. Is that a hollyhock?

Fall is here. We are having heavy winds tonight and we are going to have a mess of branches and twigs all over the yard to clean up tomorrow. Good, I need the exercise!!

xoxo
Jane

Teresa @ Grammy Girlfriend said...

I am tired from just thinking about all the work

Kat said...

aww poor little sad garden and yard. I've lost so many plants and flowers too from frost. GRRRRRR! not as bad as you though. I guess next year you start again then? have a great day and thanks for sharing.

Unknown said...

Wow, looks like your garden sure keeps you busy. It was sad to see those colours go!

Karen at Nittany Inspirations said...

It reminds me of when you put your Christmas decorations away. Everything looks so plain.

Barbara said...

Tootise, OMG, I can't belive this!Your flowers were outstanding and I am so sorry it ended so soon.

Barbara

Sue said...

Oh Tootsie-you've gotten your yard cleaned up so nicely for the winter . I just got back from vacation yesterday and eeeesh-what a mess!! Hope you'll come by and help--there is TONS to do!
:D

Susie's country cottage said...

I was shocked to see this post. Your poor flowers! Your garden was so beautiful last time I looked. I can't believe how cold it gets where you are. I suppose the one good thing you could say is that your garden is all clear and ready for next spring and replanting.
Susie

Darla said...

OH NO!! Garden bloggers death day!! Your mums and petunias still look good as do the hydrangea.....(I'm still buying plants and starting seeds)

Candy said...

Oh my...I should have taken your advice and turned away. It is only sad because of the awesome beauty of before. Oh well, counting the days until spring!
Wednesday Blessings ;-)

cherry said...

Oh Miss Tootsie I am weeping like a baby .. say it ain't so !! We are going to 90 today. I can't wait to see what you have planned for next year. I mentioned your blog this morning. hugs, Cherry

Bonnie said...

It is hard to see the ground black again. Your yard still looks great. What a lot of work. Good for you! We had a hard frost last night, so I believe my annuals are done too. I need to start cleaning out my beds. Can’t wait to watch you start new seeds in your green house!

Bonnie said...

It is hard to see the ground black again. Your yard still looks great. What a lot of work. Good for you! We had a hard frost last night, so I believe my annuals are done too. I need to start cleaning out my beds. Can’t wait to watch you start new seeds in your green house!

trash talk said...

How hard that must be for you and I'm not talking about the work (although I imagine that to be pretty back breaking). To see all your babies tarped down in a truck would be heart breaking, but girl, you are one hard working woman!
Things aren't pretty here either...just because I'm lazy!
Debbie

Kim said...

Oh Tootsie, the TIME you put into your gardens! You should be Canonized for sharing your lovely pictures with us. I say that, and I'm not even Catholic! LOL! I just adore each and every picture, truly. Your windblown gardens look better than mine in the peak of the season! Ha! Kim

"Blossom" said...

I am dying laughing!!!!!!! Girl you can even describe something bad and make it look good. Does that make sense. Just think you had it beautiful all thru the spring, summer and little of fall and we all enjoyed your yard as well. You need to get some relaxing done now to get ready for next year. How cold is it up there today. Going to be 61 here today.

Ms. Bake-it said...

Wow! All that work just reminded me why I stay in the south! It hurt me seeing all those poor beauties damaged and then to see them in the debris pile... definitely the makings for a great compost pile. Thankfully, most of my plants can remain right where they are for all seasons and only a few have to be brought in or at least covered on the few occasions we have frost.

I look forward to seeing your garden again come spring!

~ Tracy

Lona said...

Oh. Tootsie,the pretties are gone. It is so hard to see them all wither and turn brown. Your yard still looks great even without the flowers.
I was out this morning to get some pictures and it is hopeless. They look so bad. The high winds and wind chill alone will finish of ours today.

Mary Bergfeld said...

You have been very busy and are making me feel like a sluggard :-).
Isn't it great to have it over and done with? I hope you are having a wonderful day.

squawmama said...

Good Morning Tootsie... What a huge amount of work you took on... All those beautiful plants & flowers... So sad but I know next spring you'll have it in tip top condition. Don't work too hard my friend!

(((HUGS)))
Donna

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

I can't believe you did so much work. What a ton of plants you pulled out. Now on to the new garden. I know it will look better than ever. Hugs, Marty

Anonymous said...

Tootsie you are so good about getting the old stuff out so soon. I am terrible about letting it sit over the winter and doing it before spring planting. It is like once summer is over I just forget about anything outside!!

Hope your bones are all back in shape after your long soak!

blessings
mary

Sigrun said...

Are you sure you didn't just steal a copy of my to-do list? The only difference is, yours is done--mine isn't all done yet. I do the composting right here at home. It helps to have 320 acres to fool around with.

Sigrun said...

Sorry if you get 2 comments from me. I thought I posted it, but it didn't show up, so here goes.

I think you copied my to-do-list. Only difference is that yours is finished, mine isn't. I like being outside in winter, but I don't like being outside when it first gets cold. My composting goes like this: edible for sheep, into sheep, out comes manure, in 2 years-compost. Not edible for sheep: into my cold compost pile. 4 years later, compost. It helps to have 320 acres to play with.

Tina said...

WOW Girl! I can't wait to see your yard next yr! That's alot of work for one person, but I am sure you feel better.;) Don't work to hard now. Things are doing okay here. Last night was another bad night of no sleep. Will def keep the chin up. Later!

Becca's Dirt said...

You have more energy in your little finger than I have in my entire body. You go girl! You just ripped everything out of there. Have a good rest today.

Unknown said...

Seems like you just got summer and now it's gone. Not very long up there are they - or is it just me. Guess mine went fast too with all going on around here.
You're so ambitious to have it all cleaned up already. I'm still planting. Bulbs, Hostas, Mums, Euphorbia, hmmm what else is sitting out there - oh yah Lilies, Daylilies. Guess I'd best get off the computer and haul my backside outside where hopefully it's warm enough to do that now! Byeeeeeeee

Lori said...

Wow you did a lot of work!!! Have a glass of wine with the bath. You will feel better!!!

I know that when spring comes your yard will be just a pretty as ever!

Erin said...

I'm a week behind you...the frost has it and we'll be as low as 20 Friday night...

The JR said...

Too bad the frost and snow won't kill the stupid weeds.

Ramona

Dirt Princess said...

Since I wasnt a follower this time last year, I didn't realize you take everyting up. To be honest with you....I wouldn't garden if I had to do that...so high five to you! That is amazing!