Winding Down The Summer Garden

 
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I saw my first hummingbird yesterday which lets me know it officially September and summer is coming to a close. As summer wanes into fall here are a few things to look for and how to wind down your summer garden.
 
In September through October look for migrating hummingbirds. These are a treat to watch as they flit from flower to flower in search of nectar. There’s no need to buy hummingbird feeders when a few nectar plants added to the landscape will add beauty and a buffet for our feathered friends. Fall is a great time for planting, so consider adding these hummingbird attractors to your landscape: milkweed, pentas, salvias, lantana, vitex, hamelia (hummingbird bush), buddleia, bottle brush, and cape honeysuckle to name a few.
 
Make use of the harvest Moon to harvest, harvest, harvest! The last heat waves should have a few things producing prolifically, so keep check on vegetable plants daily to look for produce. Okra should particularly be producing like mad, so check for pods every day. If pods get too large, they get woody and are too tough to eat. However, you can let these dry and save the seeds to plant next year. Pods grow quickly, so a small one on one day often yields one ready to pick the next day. Pods around three to four inches that yield slightly when squeezed are ready for the table. Pods are the same color as stems, making it easy for okra to hide. Look closely so that you don’t miss any of these southern favorites. If you are not a fan of okra, try it fresh out of the garden and I dare say you may change your mind! Consider pickling or canning extra goods for later use. For more ideas, see What To Do With All Those Veggies posted earlier this summer.
 

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