Planting Next Years Garden in November

We've had a lovely November with lots of mild sunny days. Its been the perfect time to plant perennial seeds that will provide pollinator friendly flowers and grasses next spring, summer and fall.  I had really good results this past year growing plants such as Anise Hyssop, Cardinal Flower, Rose Milkweed, St. John's Wort, Bee Balm, Germander and Hairy Golden Aster.  I grew all of them from seed, I planted  outdoors in November 2020. They all needed from 30 to 90 days of cold weather to germinate in the spring.        

Anise Hyssop with Hairy Golden Aster behind

Rose Milkweed

       

These plants are some of the best for bees and butterflies.  The Anise Hyssop bloomed from late June through October.  The Rose Milkweed flowered a little later than the Common Milkweed, making a nice succession of blooms for the Monarch's that then laid their eggs on the leaves.

Majestic Red Fox

 We rarely see a red fox, or any fox for that matter, on our farm these days.  One of my best childhood memories is of walking the farm with my Dad when I was about five and having him stop and crouch down whispering to me to look at the red fox sunning itself on the opposite hillside.   

We were totally surprised to see this fox come out of the woods and along the pond in our backyard, turn and come toward the house and then stop and pose on  top of the septic tank!

For a minute we thought he might be headed for our cat door, but he veered off at the last minute and headed into the woods on the other side of the house.  This morning I thought it best to keep the chickens locked in their house and run!