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It sure feels like winter here!

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I know it’s not winter yet, but it sure feels like it here in Toronto.

Last week we got our first real snow. It wasn’t much – only about 2 cm and it was pretty much gone by Saturday when the weather warmed up and it started raining.

As sad as it is to say goodbye to the garden for the winter, it was nice to see the plants dusted with snow, and roses and rose buds lightly dusted with frost.

Last week when the snow storm hit we had heavy winds and it looks like at least one of my roses took a beating. The rose had a growth spurt in September and even though I wanted to cut down it’s extra long stems I didn’t because they had buds on them and I hoped to see their blooms before it got too cold here (I did, once it was freezing!). So the rose got battered in all that wind and it looks like two long stems broke off. They’re still attached, but hanging by just a bit bark.

Have you had your first snow yet? Is it starting to get “winter cold” in your area? If so, how is your garden fairing, and does it look nice even when covered in snow?






Finally getting some much needed rain

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I don’t know if your area has been affected by lack of rain, but I was just about to start doing a rain dance here in Toronto because it had been so long since we had rain.

We went from sometime near the end of August until the 21st of September without rain. 24 or 25 days!

I’m sure those without gardens or lawns didn’t mind the lack of rain, but anyone who tries to keep a nice yard or garden was probably longing for rain.

That’s a long time when you have a thirsty garden! I guess it’s a good thing that we weren’t having typical warm Toronto temperatures during that time as the cooler temps (especially at night – one night went down to 6 C (42 F)) made it easier on the plants water needs.

During this time the city even put out a request asking residents to water trees near their property. I’ve never heard a request like that from the city.

We haven’t had much rain over the last three days … just a few short showers or sprinkles, but it helps! I do hope that we get a good rain before we go into another dry period.

How’s the weather in your area? Have you been hoping for rain too?

Cool and dry in Toronto – a strange gardening season

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I don’t know what’s going on, but this summer is just a non-starter here in Toronto.

We’re several degree’s below the normal average this month and it’s been cloudy and overcast for most of June and July. Plus … even though most days forecast rain, we’ve only had a little bit in our area … well, up until last night and today that is!

You might remember that I started this growing season talking about how we were having a warmer than normal early spring and how my plants were ahead by two to three weeks … yeah, well forget that now! I’d say most of my plants are behind by two weeks now.

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My roses have only flowered once and are slow to develop new buds this month (although a few roses have had some repeat blooms).

The sunflowers … they’re only maybe three feet high and haven’t really developed flower heads yet!

The cosmo’s, cleomes, daisies etc are just beginning to bloom … sporadically.

I have green tomatoes on the plants, but they don’t seem to be growing all that much … and my cherry tomatoes and tiny toms have totally stalled and have yet to produce any tomatoes! I can usually count on my tiny tomatoes before my regular sized ones!

I barely saw any strawberries in June … of course it’s possible that the birds, squirrels and even my dog might have got to them before me! We do have raspberries that are starting to mature now though … so maybe with this rain and hopefully some true summer heat (next week?) the berries and all the flowers will come along.

Actually I’m sure the rain will help – as I said it’s been dry in our area … even though I know it’s rained in other areas of Toronto … still the weather people say we’ve had a lot less rain than we normally do in July as well … so it’s cool and dry.

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How are things in your area? Is your garden a little behind because of cool weather or is your garden delightful?

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