RE: [gardeners] Our beautiful October garden
Margaret Lauterbach (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Sun, 14 Oct 2001 09:06:12 -0600
Nice to hear from you, Rosemary.
>I replied to the "October" thread as the fall here in my part of KY has been
>the most beautiful I can remember in a long time. Brilliant foliage. The
>woods surrounding my house are all hardwood. No/few conifers. So, as the
>leaves drop, I feel exposed. Sometime, I have to get out and blow leaves.
>Not for the next couple of days, however. Raining cats and dogs today. Can't
>blow wet leaves. But soon!
>
>
>I'm still teaching - about 7 more years until I can retire from the
>university. But, I've sort of morphed into another career. I've become, over
>the past couple of years, a freelance writer in finance and business, though
>occasionally in other things. I write for one of the online brokerages on
>the 'net as a regular columnist.
What brokerage is that?
> I freelance for other online and print
>publications. I've always been a frustrated writer :) so this is very
><snips>. On top of
>that, I'm writing a textbook. Life is busy. My woods is a wonderful place
>for inspiration. After retirement from teaching, I hope to write full time
>and develop that in to a full-time career -- which it sort of already is!
>
>
>Although I don't post much, I read all your email and really enjoy it. Love
>to read about your gardens since my gardening is limited due to heavy shade
>and a heavy deer population! Recently, we've become infested here with lady
>bugs. They are all over the outside of the house - and on houses over the
>entire area! No one can figure it out.
New species (?) of lady beetles have been imported and let loose, Rosemary.
They want shelter for the winter, so want to come into your house and exude
stuff on your wallpaper. Just vacuum them up and put them in your garage
or someplace sheltered.
>Along with my beloved corgis (Zach who is the old guy at 14 and Eliza at 2),
>I have a new dog. It became obvious I needed a watch dog. I rescued (from a
>shelter who doesn't kill) a wonderful (WONDERFUL) rough collie/German
>Shepherd mix. Dad was a GS and Mom a collie. His name is Murphy and he's
>about 3. He is the BEST dog in America! He lives on my screened porch where
>he has a dog door that allows him to go in and out into the fenced back yard
>at will. He has a wonderful "house" in the screened porch with fuzzy
>blankets and all manner things to keep him warm. He wanders inside some --
>but not much. He prefers being out and I (and the corgis) spend time with
>him outside. A TERRIFIC watch dog who appears to have been guard trained in
>his previous life. I feel safe here always -- but safer with Murphy on duty!
>:) He and Eliza AND he and Abby (my Maine Coon cat) are best buds. He and
>Zach are less friendly - they have the macho male dog thing going on though
>both are neutered!
>
>Enjoy reading your posts and I hope everyone is well!
>
>Rosemary
>Zone 6a on a mountain in Eastern KY
>
>Rosemary Carlson
>Freelance Financial/Business Writer and Columnist
>P.O. Box 1278
>Morehead, KY 40351
>Email: rcarlson@mis.net
>www.thewritescribe.com (under heavy construction)
Rosemary, I'm sure you remember Joyce Schillen (!!!), but in her book she
wrote that deer didn't eat all of strong-scented perennial herbs. I know
your yard is mostly shady, but if you can find something that would be
strongly-scented that would grow in such conditions, it should be safe from
deer. Joyce said they may nibble, but they don't eat it to the
ground. How's your Mother? Margaret L