You may ask what and I’ll answer honestly there has been so much going on in my garden and otherwise it’s official that I can’t keep up! The blog posts have not been finding their way to the published world although many an idea for posts has been captured on the “To Do” list. Drat, that us humans must sleep at night, otherwise we could pack so much more into a single day!
But today I’m at my computer with some writing juice so a quick update on all things official.
First off, I’m becoming more official! I’ve committed to the Idaho Master Gardener program and will be involved with these studies for the next 8 months. I will be learning much about growing all types of plant life in this desert/intermountain climate and I plan to share interesting experiences and information with readers occasionally. (I’ve already learned some great stuff about improving my native soil and my composting method has improved tenfold!)
In other official news, I’ve grown and ripened my first lemon since bringing my Meyer lemon tree to Idaho. For four years, I’ve tried to get a ripe lemon from this tree that was a gift from a dear friend.
I’ve encountered a variety of enemies such as scale, leaf-miners, extreme heat, etc… that have made it a tough process. This little tree has not been stingy with flowers but it has seemed an insurmountable challenge for it to hold on to the little lemons as they form. And then, to get one of the lemons to ripen from green to yellow has been another story.
But early this spring one little lemon formed and stayed on the tree (although it was the hottest summer in years) and in the last few weeks has turned yellow. It’s ripe baby! To all the naysayers (you know who you are) I told you it could be done! 🙂
Perseverance and patience…sometimes this is what it’s all about in gardening (and in life too, I suppose…)
Tomato season is officially over. After one of the most robust tomato seasons I’ve experienced, it feels o.k. to say goodbye. 
The bounty of tomatoes we enjoyed the last three months has been wonderful but it’s sort of nice to not have to find something to do with an over abundance of tomatoes every week. Just a couple of bowls left to enjoy…
‘The Builder’ (my husband) and I are officially starting a new backyard project. With seven yards of topsoil and some really BIG rocks, we are ready to give this backyard berm a new look.
As “yard crashers” our plan is to add more depth to this planting area by widening the berm and taking out some of the steep grade. 
We are also moving a couple of trees that are too crowded and adding a walking path that leads to one of the edible gardens. Later on, I hope to add an arbor as an entrance to the path that will serve as a focal point too.
I’m very excited about getting a bit more planting space and I hope the overall effect achieves more visual depth to our outdoor area. I want to get away from the current look of all the planting areas being pushed against the perimeter of the property. More on this project as it evolves…
Two more official updates – First, it’s o.k. to not have all of your bulbs planted in October! I did write in my last local garden article (Eagle Informer) to get bulbs in the ground during the first two weeks of October. However, with more than 100 still in a box, I’m thinking November is a great month to plant. Besides, I’m betting bulbs are not too inclined toward officialism and more towards vitalism. 🙂
Second, this is officially my 100th post! Wow, I was stuck at 99 for a long time and it feels great to move over the hump to 100. Here’s to the next 100!
How about you? Have you started any new projects this fall? What have you done to increase visual depth in your outdoor space?
igardendaily 
Congratulations on your 100th post as well as the lemon, Andrea! Let us know what you do with that little lemon…!
O.K. I sure will! What to do with 1 lemon??!! Frame it? 🙂
Congrats on your sweet, lemony success. I couldn’t agree more about waving bye bye to the tomatoes, after putting up about 40 pints of spaghetti sauce. It sure will be nice this winter, though. The border along our entry drive is beginning to take shape. I am more of an incrementalist, but do envy your “go for broke” approach.
Wow, that is a lot of sauce! I bet it is tasty and will be great for quick dinners this winter, I agree. I made some sauce too but I think we will be running out long before you! Yes, I hope our BIG approach to our BIG project is rewarding!
Congratulations on your hundredth post. And the lemon! 😀 No big plans here. Just need to get some more wood in for winter!
Congrats on your 100th post. I commend you on trying to get away from the problem of perimeter-itis. It’s hard to achieve.
Congrats on 100!! Posts!! I love love the first pic of the fall leaves!!! That lemon tree really has hung in there… In this case the statement less is more could not be any truer for u!!! Xoxo J
Thanks and I agree!
We take some of the excess small Romas and Cherry tomatoes, cut them in half, sprinkle with olive oil, sea salt, a generous number of garlic cloves and some sprigs of basil and/or oregano and roast them at 200 degrees for 4 or more hours. The whole house smells like a pizza kitchen and the little dried tomatoes are great all winter long. It’s quick and yummy.
A great idea for sure. I’ve done that too and the smell and taste of a tomato prepared this way is amazing! Thanks so much for commenting.
Congratulations on your 100th post and commitment to the Master Gardner program!
Thank you and thank you for stopping by my blog!
So happy to hear you’re going to be a Master Gardener. I volunteered for 11 years here in Colorado ending 12/2011, and I really miss the continuing education classes. I hope you pass along all the cool research you learn about!
And, you’ve inspired me to try again with a dwarf lemon. My last one succumbed to scale before it could bear fruit. Hot summers should be perfect–think of where lemons are grown commercially. Hopefully, our cool and dry house will suffice as well.
Thank you! I am really enjoying the program so far and will definitely pass on some new knowledge. Good luck with your lemon. I really think it is about trial and error trying to grow citrus in a cold weather climate. It can be rewarding though and the smell of the flowers is amazing and sometimes that alone is enough, right? 🙂
Congrats on the 100th. Also on you committing to the MG program. I hope you enjoy it, but I am guessing you will know much of what they teach.
Lots to celebrate but growing that lemon is a labor of love more than anything I bet….I cannot wait to see the new berm area as well and of course congrats for that 100th post…it is a great milestone! Enjoy the MG program…I have yet been able to find one that fits my schedule around here.
I so agree with you, gardening just around the edge is quite boring, good luck with your project, I’m sure it’s going to look great! Good luck on your studies as well.