Some of the week’s highlights.

1. I plant marigolds every year because I actually like them. And the bees ignore them every year until early fall.

2. Today’s harvest. Definitely the last of the Christmas lima beans (I’m leaving any stragglers to dry on the vine so I can try this Christmas Lima Bean Salad). I made another jar of pickled green tomatoes with the tomatoes, dill, and my favorite Chinese 5 Color pepper. I’m also pretty sure that’s the last cucumber of 2017!

3. I planted a couple Geranium ‘Rozanne’ plants in late September. With the weather we’ve been having here in Cincinnati (not very fall-like yet), this plant decided to bloom. Love the purple!

4. The butterfly bush and zinnias have been keeping the bees and butterflies buzzing in the garden the last few weeks. I’ve spotted a few migrating Monarch butterflies, lots of Painted Lady butterflies, and countless bees.

Not too long ago, I was wondering what happened to August. And here we are in October! I’m still harvesting tomatoes, squash, lima beans, bush green beans, and a rogue cucumber or two.

Oh, and tomatillos. I’ll let you in on a secret—I don’t really like tomatillos but I grow them because bees LOVE the flowers. In addition, I’ve started harvesting some cool season crops including lettuce, radishes, turnips, and bok choy.

Today’s harvest included lots of juicy tomatoes along with a few tomatillos and turnips.

While I’m sort of ready to put the garden to bed, I’m grateful that it keeps going. Just check out these zinnias and salvia!

But I know I need to stay on top of harvesting and other tasks. Where to start? Instead of reinventing the wheel, I follow this great advice from Tenth Acre Farm: In the garden | What to do in October.

I planted twelve new milkweed plants in the garden today. Why? Because I feel strongly that we all need to do our part to help.

Finally, my brother and his lovely fiancée are getting married in just about a month. I try to wear gloves when I garden but I really don’t like them. I’m hoping a good nail tech can work some magic but I may be the person at the wedding with dirt under my nails!