The last of the garden flowers for this year.
By Marie Coyle
@MarieCoyle (37103)
October 31, 2024 5:51pm CST
It usually happens that the zinnias are the very last flowers to give up the ghost, and they are definitely giving it up today. These are the very last--for some reason the pink ones are the only ones who survived past the freeze of several weeks ago. I pulled up the dead ones and left these until today, enjoying their blooms as long as I could.
Well, that's normal if you live where there are seasons. We plant, they grow and produce, and then they fade away for the winter. Next spring, I will plant some more and enjoy them again. I had other flowers, but these are the very last, so it seemed I should bring them in to enjoy them.
I am still dehydrating parsley, cilantro, rosemary, and sage. There are still a few carrots to yank out of the ground, but they are hardy and always survive longer for me than any other vegetable, and the ground has not come close to freezing yet.
Do you have any flowers or garden stuff left?
15 people like this
17 responses
@wolfgirl569 (105819)
• Marion, Ohio
1 Nov
I brought my mandevillea plant in. Its in full bloom right now. Hoping I can keep it alive this winter
5 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (105819)
• Marion, Ohio
1 Nov
@MarieCoyle They are expensive at the auction and I haven't found one anywhere else. So fingers crossed
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (37103)
•
1 Nov
Oh, I hope you can, too. If anyone can do it, you can.
4 people like this
@celticeagle (166672)
• Boise, Idaho
1 Nov
Zinnias are hardy. We don't have a garden or flowers here. We aren't allowed. The mowers have to get by and there is no room for a garden. My daughter does have some flowers in a planter out front and they are all gone now.
4 people like this
@MarieCoyle (37103)
•
1 Nov
I am glad to be able to plant some flowers and my little vegetable patch!
3 people like this
@sallypup (60954)
• Centralia, Washington
1 Nov
@celticeagle I hate that the idea that lawn reigns over all is common. I'm sorry.
4 people like this
@MarieCoyle (37103)
•
1 Nov
@sallypup
I do, too. Growing grass instead of food for humans and bee flowers makes very little sense to me.
4 people like this
@much2say (55512)
• Los Angeles, California
1 Nov
So pretty! We have citrus - so the lemons, tangelo, and oranges will ripen fully as winter nears (actually nature confused all the plants, so some have started ripening too early). Otherwise, with my survival-of-the-fittest garden, there are some random plants/flowers still around somehow 
.
.3 people like this
@MarieCoyle (37103)
•
1 Nov
I would love to have citrus growing, but it's not going to grow here in the Midwest. I remember some of our California family had apricots and lemons growing. I love the description of the 'survival of the fittest' garden! 
3 people like this
@much2say (55512)
• Los Angeles, California
2 Nov
@MarieCoyle Oh yes, our neighbors have an apricot tree! Lemons and oranges can be found everywhere around the neighborhood. I did not inherit my father's green thumb . . . so whatever grows in our garden is on their own 
.
.1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (37103)
•
2 Nov
@much2say
I still remember how good those fresh apricots tasted. When we get them in the stores, they aren't very good.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (51045)
• Canada
1 Nov
I found a wild volunteer snapdragon a few weeks ago, and I planted it and it did fairly well.
I hope that it returns next year.
The dusty Miller will come back, it all looks good.
I have to remove the potato vines still, they are slowly dying, which makes it easier to clean them up.
4 people like this
@MarieCoyle (37103)
•
1 Nov
I still have to cut back some of the lavender plants, they grow so fast. Nothing kills those things...they multiply everywhere!
3 people like this
@MarieCoyle (37103)
•
1 Nov
Zinnias are very long lasting, I’ve always liked them a lot. Thanks!
3 people like this
@snowy22315 (180361)
• United States
1 Nov
Yeah, it hasn't been very cold here. Hmm, I glad you brought that up though. I just remembered I have some bulbs to plant. Maybe I can do that sometime this weekend, or even Monday when it will be a bit warmer.
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (180361)
• United States
1 Nov
@MarieCoyle That happens here sometimes too. I had a nice tulip by the mailbox popped up really pretty and guess who ate the bulb? Hint: it wasn't me... However, I think maybe it was a vole instead of a squirrel. One was hanging around down there.
. However, I think maybe it was a vole instead of a squirrel. One was hanging around down there.2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (37103)
•
1 Nov
My neighbor wanted to plant some bulbs this week, but even though we had a bit of rain, the dirt is just a rock still. It's supposed to rain later and then again Sunday and Monday, so she said she would wait.
Every single time I plant new bulbs, the squirrels come and dig them up and eat them. I even tried putting screens around them and on top of the dirt, but I have given up on bulbs for the most part.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (37103)
•
1 Nov
@snowy22315
Two chipmunks dug up my neighbors daffodil bulbs...she wasn't happy. Somehow, they know where the bulbs are and love to dig them up. Frustrating.
2 people like this
@allknowing (135925)
• India
1 Nov
When seasonal flowers 'invaded' our garden we had zinnias too and we had them in double petals. Sadly no seasonal flowers here nowadays
3 people like this
@MarieCoyle (37103)
•
1 Nov
Some of mine were double petals this year, but they were done blooming before today. We no doubt won't see any flowers outside until early spring, when a few brave ones will try to make an appearance.
3 people like this
@luisadannointed (6015)
• Philippines
1 Nov
We always buy in the market, we don't have garden actually.
3 people like this
@MarieCoyle (37103)
•
1 Nov
Flowers are expensive, I just grow mine. People here usually just get them for special occasions, not everyday for the most part.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (471253)
• Switzerland
2 Nov
@MarieCoyle - Sage and rosemary remains healthy. Cilantro and dill loves the cold and parsley does not freeze. I remember that I used to dig through the snow to get it.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (37103)
•
2 Nov
My plants usually will freeze solid but most come back in the spring.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (37103)
•
2 Nov
@LadyDuck
I just harvest and cut mine way back, and then it comes right back in the spring. You are energetic, digging through the snow, Anna!
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (79648)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
1 Nov
Beautiful flowers, I no longer have a garden,
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (37103)
•
1 Nov
I try to appreciate the flowers and enjoy them outside, but their time is up so I brought the last few inside. Thank you, Lenore.
3 people like this
@LindaOHio (177841)
• United States
1 Nov
Lovely flowers. Our flower garden is one big weed. So sad. Have a good weekend.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (177841)
• United States
2 Nov
@MarieCoyle My husband's cousin started on it; but she never did any more.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (37103)
•
2 Nov
@LindaOHio
Is it a giant flower bed? Could it be helped by putting down more mulch to help keep the weeds down? I know weeding is a never ending thing here. I swear they sometimes grow inches per day!
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (37103)
•
1 Nov
I'm sorry.
I wish someone could help you with it that didn't charge hundreds of dollars to pull weeds!
2 people like this
@aureategloom (9317)
• Bosnia And Herzegovina
1 Nov
it's so nice that you have all these plants in your garden. i don't have any 
2 people like this
@aureategloom (9317)
• Bosnia And Herzegovina
6 Nov
@MarieCoyle i'm daydreaming about having a small garden of my own too. maybe someday
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (37103)
•
7 Nov
@aureategloom
I miss living where I could plant a lot more, but this is nice, so I am not complaining. Maybe someday you can have one, too!
@MarieCoyle (37103)
•
1 Nov
Sometimes, we don't get a really hard freeze until late November, but not often. The few nights of freezing temperatures we have had so far here and there have taken their toll on the plants this year. But there have been a few years that didn't happen. A few years back, we didn't have a freeze at all until Thanksgiving night. We had homegrown sliced tomatoes over the holiday with our turkey sandwiches that year! Amazing, for Illinois.
2 people like this
i don't have a garden.