Late summer garden update

We didn't plant much this year, and so the updates haven't been very exciting.  We did finish one more small area with succulent plantings and a new patio and put in an arch to train the mystery tree to cover (A bird was in there yesterday and flew out right at Mr. IM's head...it was funny....)
The first frost is possible this week (forecast says low of 35...but that is pretty close to 32...) so it is time to start wrapping up this year.

I think the only crops this year were:
Cherry Tree planted this year--two cherries total
Peach Tree-3rd or 4th year since we planted--4-5 peaches (they were yummy)
Potatoes in a trash can--not harvested yet
Potatoes in the garden--planted for spring harvest, per internet advice...we'll see
Early lettuce--we ate it....
Scallions, onions, chives--harvested and eaten periodically.  All volunteer plants from earlier years..yummy
garlic--some volunteer and some planted using garlic that was sprouting in the kitchen.
Basil--Morrison keeps trying to kill it...but I did use quite a bit during the summer.  We'll see if it gets to come in for the winter.
Lavender--none harvested, because Morrison keeps pulling it up.  We'll see in the next few weeks if there is anything worth saving
Oregano--inside, on the kitchen window sill--will let it keep growing, use it occasionally
Sage--didn't use it much, also in kitchen window sill.  Will probably freeze what is left.
Asparagus--didn't get to eat any of it--it came in and flowered before I realized it was ready
Peas--rodents ate them all :(
Cucumbers--had quite a few--not as many as some years, but enough for a couple new jars of pickles and lots of eating.
Cilantro-planted it in the garden, it has gone crazy. Used it a lot this summer and will let it re-seed itself for next year
Mint:  As always it is going. nuts.  I need to harvest and preserve some before it frosts
Catnip:  Had a slow start, but is going nuts now...should harvest and preserve it as well!
Tomatoes--had a lot--many are still green, so we may have green tomato relish this year if it does freeze soon
Peppers--I think we planted green peppers and jalapenos, but I think they cross pollinated.  There could be some habaneros, too.  All the peppers seem hot.  We haven't had a ton, but have had steady production most of the summer.

I recently saw kale growing in flower pots as an ornamental object, so I think I might try that next year!

What I read in September 2016

Apparently I can't keep track of time well--since I last wrote, I participated in a yarn crawl (and won one of the grand prizes) and have been busy with life.

Here's what I was reading when I wasn't "doing":

1.  All Fall Down:  An Embassy Row Novel (Ally Carter)--I loved "I'd Tell You I Love You, But I'd Have to Kill You", Ms. Carter's series from a few years ago.  Well, at least I loved the first few books.  The last couple were strange.  So when she started this series I didn't jump and read it.  I was looking for a new series (and hanging out in the teen tower) and started reading.  It was good--probably top ten material.  About a teen girl who is the granddaughter of the ambassador to a European country,  It has some similarities to the Gallagher Girls series (spies, secrets, adventure) while staying pretty tame and PG rated.  Entertaining. likeable characters, etc.
2.  See How They Run (Ally Carter)--book two of the series--not as good as book 1, but the third book comes out in December, we'll see if it redeems the series.
3.  Fly Away (Kristin Hannah)--Another find in my search for "something good".  By the same author as The Nightingale.  Just found out it is actually the 2nd book in a mini-series, but I don't remember not understanding anything.  About an Oprah like woman who looses her best friend to cancer and how the choices she makes impact her and others.  good read.  I will probably read more that she has written.
4.  The Last Camel Died at Noon (Elizabeth Peters) on CD--always good in the car..
5.  Play Dead (Anne Frasier)-recommended by a friend and interlibrary loaned through the library.  It is a mystery/crime novel set in Savannah Georgia.  It was good, a little gory at times, but a good story.  If our library owned them, I might eventually read the others.  At this point I'll probably wait. This book centered on a detective who was sort of a voodoo priestess as well and how she solves crimes using her detective smarts and voodoo knowledge.

Only 5 and I'm not sure that any are top ten material--maybe Fly Away or collectively the Ally Carter books...but not spectacular.  I have been reading a book called How to Build A Better Teacher for about a month as well.  While it won't make the top 10, it might get its own post--it is interesting material.