The Gold of November

peering from some high window;

at the gold

of november sunset

(and feeling:that if day

has to become night

this is a beautiful way)

~e.e. cummings

This November was one of the coldest I remember since I moved to North Carolina.  I also think that the beautiful golds and reds of Fall were more brilliant this month.  The golds of the Sweet Gum trees, the reds of the Viburnums, Dogwoods and Oaks paint the landscape with an artists brush.

I have had the row covers on standby and used them  in the vegetable garden for more than 6 or 7 days of below freezing temperatures.  I have planted chinese cabbage and kale from seed and they are growing nicely.  Also planted Savoy cabbage and it's thriving as well.  I've added elephant garlic and stir-fry broccoli this last month.

Taking note of what's still in bloom this late November.  The aster above , ' Raydon's Favorite ' is also one of mine.  It grows wide and tall, blooms late but long.  I have divided it into several transplants that I've spread through-out my roadside garden.  It goes well with the ornamental grasses.

Another favorite is Autumn Sage.  I have several different colors-red, red and white and now this new cultivar -violet.  They also spread and become a woody shrub with a long blooming period.  The hummers , butterflies and bees love this plant.  Last year mine bloomed through-out the winter.

Another bright shining star in the November garden -'sheffield's pink ' Korean mum.  Blooms early but stays late.

My favorite annuals -Dianthus and Snapdragons-are still acting like perennials despite the harsh freezes we've had.   Soon the hellebores of which I now have many passalongs will be in bloom.

The herb garden which I planted right next to the chicken coop so I could pick oregano and thyme to feed the chickens is still growing.  Oregano is considered an antibiotic and the girls love it .I used sage and thyme to season the turkey dressing and chives for the potatoes.   Speaking of the girls only two of them continue to lay eggs -the red star Henrietta and the Americauna Luna.  I doubt they will lay all winter but I'll have to wait and see.

This last week of November brought back some Spring-like weather of highs in the upper 60's.  I'm just waiting for the last leaves to fall so that I can shred them and return them to the earth to enrich the soil.

And now on to the last month of the year.  It's hard to believe that it's here but with it comes a lot of good cheer and a time of rest for the gardener.