OMG! ...or for you non text folks (Oh my gosh)! A busy week for Dale K. I have literally spent most of last week in Salt Lake City, Utah on a spring buying fling. A convention center full of everything a Garden Center would need for spring and summer. So, I spend time and money procuring all the gardening provisions you'll need from Gertens. When time permits I will fill you in on all the fun things I found to tempt the avid gardener. My mouth waters...Spring 2010 is going to be so fun.

Unfortunately, today we have an immediately more pressing issue. As I have just returned, I see all the local weather news stations forecasting cold weather. Possibly a killing frost is on the way. Could this be the end of the 2009 planting season as we know it?

Hope for the garden is not all lost. Yes, a cold night of 26 degrees does take care of all those summer annuals and veggies, unless protected. But, your veggie garden may still have some life left although we gardeners realize we are on borrowed time!

Cold weather, however harsh does promise new life. After a hard freeze brings about the perfect time to plant spring bulbs like daffodils, hyacinth and tulips. Harvest decorating is in full swing. Branches, grasses, berries, gourds and squash will all look fabulous after a cold night and even snow flakes. Simply replace petunias and geraniums with these. Your front planters will never miss a beat. Not to mention that autumn decorating is easy. Even a novice decorator will find pleasure and visual rewards. For those that do not want to let go of the garden cover and protect tender plants heavily over the next couple of nights. Harvest tomatoes even if they are green, they will ripen on your window sill.

All this cold autumn weather brings about the next question...How long can you keep planting in your garden? Here is my time line for success:

Perennials and Roses: Rush these plantings to completion time is ticking Oct 15 is my cut off

Evergreens: Have planted and extremely well watered by October 31st

Shrubs: Until the ground freezes

Bulbs: Until the ground freezes.

Tender Tropicals: Rush these little beauties inside.

Remember, cover those tender plants tonight and tomorrow night and take comfort in this fact...However harsh winter is this year; from this day forward, spring 2010 is only a short 180 days away!

You Little Beauty!!