Spring freezes make me angry, but fall freezes offer a chance to extend the growing season. Whenever my garden survives a fall freeze I celebrate and am excited for another week or two of gardening. Even when the first hard fall freeze does kill off my garden, it is a time to relax. I get a break from watering and weeding and can start planning next year's garden.

I survived the latest cold snap without a freeze and without any frost. My house is on top of a little hill, and tends to be a warmer area that stays frost free while other areas get colder. Even though my garden is still growing, I am going through the transition to a winter garden. I have lots of green tomatoes that will probably not turn orange. I am loaded with peppers that will be pickled soon, and more are still growing, and I have plenty of eggplant as well. My cauliflower and broccoli are growing nicely, and I should have broccoli soon, and I have been eating cool season leaf lettuce for a few weeks now.

This past weekend I planted garlic. It will grow through the winter and be ready to pick in the spring. I also planted pansies in the flower garden. This will give me color through the winter. I also planted a tree yesterday. A cherry tree that will flower in the spring, and will offer some shade to my laundry room (the hot room in my house) in the summer. This is the best time of year to plant trees and shrubs, and also a good time to plant shade grass.

I am already thinking about what to grow next year, and am thinking about making the garden bigger. I will wait until winter to make the final plans.