After several years of “tomato failure” I had the healthiest, most beautiful, most productive tomato plants in history. Well, in my history.
What was the key to success? Location, location, location. Full sun, not in raised beds or pots but in-ground in the garden. My area was passed over from the first few frosts and I was still picking tomatoes the last week in October. Unheard of. Normally, signs of disease start at least by August, but none was obvious until almost frost time. As usual, lots of end-of-season salsa was made with my grandsons.
Early on, my small stretch of green bean plants showed signs of mosaic virus — this was a first. So, they were pulled and destroyed before they ever had blossoms. Mosaic virus can spread to many other garden plants, so once detected, there is no cure, get the plants out.
In 2024 my few wimpy raspberry plants that have been moved a zillion times looked near death. But 2025 was their year!
From meagerness to bountiful in one season. Moving them 100 feet closer to the house has made a difference in how I often I get them watered, cultivated and picked. No “outta sight, outta mind” anymore.
Iris eyes
In February and March of 2024 there were some warm stretches of weather. I took the opportunity to propagate (divide) well over 100 iris plants. Planting in February and March is unheard of for most sane gardeners and totally out of season for iris. I had the time, the weather was acceptable, the plants were in need and so it happened. I wasn’t expecting much in the summer of 2024, and I got what I was expecting — not much. There were also a few that died due to the winter move as expected. Anticipating some plant death, I only moved large groups so losing a few wouldn’t deplete my stock.
This year, those iris plants really flourished with growth, but no blooms yet. I am expecting bountiful blooms this year. To insure this, I will hit them with some 10-20-10 fertilizer this spring, formulated for blooms. Most plants will not put out new growth or blooms until the root system has recovered and it has enough stored energy to do so.
Another one of my sloped areas was planted at different times throughout the summer and fall. Grasses, sedums and salvias were installed in large drifts to make it look more natural. Slopes or small hillsides make up a good portion of my landscape. So, if it seems that I am always ‘planting a hillside,’ that would be correct!
Widow makers
Carr Tree Service spent a day here cutting down a few trees, raising the canopy on others and removing some widow makers from up high in the treetops. Widow makers are broken branches that have not fallen to the ground, but are stuck or supported by other branches, just waiting to fall down on someone.
They did an excellent job of cleanup, only leaving burnable pieces in the right length for the fireplace. In late fall, they returned to do infusion treatments on two of my mature Autumn Blaze Maples for iron chlorosis deficiency. They will be treated for three years, and of course no guarantee it will help. The symptoms were yellowing of the leaves, smaller than usual leaves, and a thinner overall canopy, changing to fall colors in late July and fewer leaves than expected.
Bugs
There are no major insect issues to report. Every year is different here. Last year there were swarms of large dragonflies. This year there were hardly any. Same with butterflies. Some years there are lots, then not so many.
Not sad to report only a couple of Japanese Beetle were found this year as opposed to thousands last year. The adults only live one season, but they lay their eggs in the turf — didn’t they hatch? As I type on the keyboard, a ladybug lands on my thumb. Isn’t it time for them to hibernate, like outside? And they can take their friend the boxelder bugs with them!
Weed report is also fairly good, at least better than previous years. Using Snapshot in the garden truly helped with preventing weed seeds from germinating. I also made an effort to get out to the garden more often with my trusty shuffle hoe. The more mature perennial areas always have fewer weeds than the newer areas that have more unfilled space between plants.
Rain was right on this year. So many less hours of work for me (watering, dragging around hoses, untangling hoses, fighting with hoses, unkinking hoses etc.). Varmints in the form of rabbits were plenty since my last of three stray cats died. Fortunately, I only had to scream at one snake this year.
Already thinking of what to focus on next year or which unplanted hillside needs me. That’s a wrap folks!
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