Wild Carrot or Queen Anne’s Lace
First Frost of the Season
We normally have a frost in late September or early October in Northern Illinois. This year we were treated to a much later freeze overnight Friday, October 16th. The killing frost wiped out all of my heat loving veggies and the flowers in my pots. I can’t say that I didn’t see it coming because it was so late in our season and I was watching the weather reports.
So on Thursday and Friday I went through the garden and picked another nice harvest of green beans and sweet peppers, the last of our green tomatoes, and a few nice eggplants. It was wonderful to get another harvest from my heat lovers.
Sycamore Leaf
We also had another small harvest of broccoli florets and mustard greens. I’m hoping that they continue to do well through a few more frosts because it’s so comforting to have the fresh green veggies to add to our meals.
Yellow Foxtail
I know we will have plenty of kale until late in the season and I’ll add it to soups and stews, stir fries and salads. The vitamins and antioxidants will be a welcome addtion to our meals until everything freezes solid in December.
Oak Leaf
As I headed out with camera in hand to take advantage of the new morning light, I could hear leaves sofly falling to the ground, the rooster crowing in the chicken coop, and a truck or two travelling down the main road nearby.
Curly Dock
My toes complained about the chill that permeated my slippers and my fingers had a bit of trouble working the camera. ‘What happened to summer?’ and ‘Why are we out here in the cold instead of wrapped around a cup of coffee?’ That was my fingers talking, not my toes. 😉
Swiss Chard
Next week we are forecast to have temps back up in the 80s. I know it won’t last long, but I still have 2 pots of peppers in my little greenhouse. Maybe I’ll get a few more peppers from them.
Even though I hate to see the end of my warm weather veggies, I enjoyed the sparkling frost on the plants and the gold sunlight streaming across my garden. It makes me feel more alive to venture out in the chill to catch these fleeting glimpses of autumnal beauty.
Pak Choi
I hope you enjoy these early morning photos from my frosty homestead. Happy Autumn Everyone!
Another view of the wild carrot.
Beautiful pictures. Have a nice fall! 🙂
Thank you, Regula! You too 🙂
Gorgeous! We haven’t had our first frost yet, but we will soon. Thanks for the pix!
Thank you so much, Vickie! So happy to share 🙂
Our first frost was last evening. I’m in East Central Indiana, I’m sure your first frost just drifted my direction. Your photos are beautiful!! Last Fall I took a picture of a dandelion in the ‘fluff’ stage with a coating of frost . Still one of my favorites!
I had a question for you on your garden vegetables. Did you harvest green beans from Spring planted beans? I’ve never had my plants last the entire summer. We dug potatoes yesterday and harvested the last of the cabbage, peppers and radishes out of the garden. Still have a few rows of onions between us and the end of the garden of 2015.
~laura
Hi Laura,
Thank you so much! I bet your photo was gorgeous!
The green beans were harvested from pole beans, which don’t produce as many beans all at once, but they produce beans over a much longer period. They were planted in the spring, started to produce beans in July and have given us enough beans to eat several meals each week. I planted a row on a fence that is about 10 or 12 feet long. I also planted bush beans but the rabbits ate them and I got very few beans from those plants. I was hoping to have some to freeze, but those little bunnies ruined my plans. 😉
Sounds like you’ve been busy! Thanks for sharing your end of the season activities with us!
At first glance I thought your wild carrot was Queen Anne’s Lace. I may not enjoy the cold but nature is so beautiful when frosted over as you have shown in your amazing pictures. We expect our first frost tonight. I hope they change our forecast and we see some of those 80 degree temps you are expecting.
Hi Lois,
Wild carrot and Queen Anne’s Lace are the same plant! I’m hoping we have some more nice weather too. 🙂 Have a great day!
Great pictures and interesting blog!
Thank you, Shanna!
Excellent shots!!!!
Thank you, Nancy!