I am tired too. Have been on strike for a couple of weeks, refusing to water. It is now November, I've seen frost 3 times recently, but not under my big freakin' oaks. I have lots of live healthy hostas, many looking as good as they did in the summer, and I am fed up. I don't want to cut them down because of risk of spreading whatever might be out there. I want them to just die back so I can pull up the decaying mush. But no, I have freakin' oak tress, and my hostas are still alive. Bummer. There are also 75 trillion leaves still up on the trees, just starting to come down. Looks like we'll be out raking in the snow on Thanksgiving again. I also need to wait for the leaves to come down before I can put the Christmas lights on the bushes. Just once I'd like to get it done before the snow squalls start (usually the day after Thanksgiving, when we are still out raking the lawns and picking the bushes clean)
~Bunnycat

Ken, I too use roundup this time of year. Follow up with Preen or something similar in March to keep those weed seeds from germinating next year.
It does work!
.......but then, you already know this. lol
Rox

I had a little shock today. I'm still happy with the hostas that are out there. The putative Blue Cadet looks great, the mini's around it look good (except for Blue Chip, which is dormant or dead), Kiwi Blue Baby, Halcyon, and Fragrant Blue are not only going strong, they're still blue.

And Golden Tiara is blooming.

But I was loading pictures to show you all and therefore was pawing through my photos from June, and BOY do they look lush in comparison! It was quite the kick in the head.

*sigh* Spring will come. And I'll find out what died, versus what just went dormant either from the heat, drought, or because it was time. And it will be my first spring in six years with not one hosta in a pot (except for the pot which has the remains of what I am almost certain is a dead Francee).

Speaking of which. Lowe's is dumping some Francees for $5 and I had DH bring one to the scooter so I could get an up-close-and-personal look but finally, I was just too lily-livered about the risk of HVX, so I let it go... I'm still thinking about it half a day later, though.

Ken, I think this is the third year I've seen your "It's Over" caption and sighed a big sigh. Guess I should peg it to Daylight Savings Time, right? More or less the same time. We had two 32-degree nights last week, but one night this week, they're telling us to expect only high 20's.

Yesterday was my last day also. The leaves have all fallen off trees. I have picked up everything...some went to the compost pile...some were burned (the excess)...I did my best to discourage the moles from tunnelling but boy are they ever persistant!!The water pump is off the river and the irrigation system has been shut off. All hoses are inside. Eaves throughs have been cleaned with the water pressure gun. This morning the outside temp is at freezing point. I have turned back the clock at 2am to Normal Standard Time. I have done some pruning but still have to trim my cedar hedges...if I have time...if not...well next year is good enough.

Papou

Today might be my last day. It has been so windy most of the leaves have blown off what I hoped to chop up for mulch. I was really wanting to get a few more lawnmower bags full. Anything with a bit of green will be toast by Tuesday morning as they are predicting mid 20's. Except for bringing some geraniums indoors from the garage most of what I could do is optional if I feel like it. Things like cutting down the "uglies", cleaning my patio fountain and whiskey barrel water feature, watering more as well as trying to kill a few more weeds is all stuff that just might not get done. I am not a fan of 30+mph north wind and cold temps.You'd think being from Nebraska we'd be used to it but we still complain. I will just enjoy the high 60's today and see what next week brings.
As papou said..next year is good enough!

So far holding strong in the lower half of Ohio, but Tuesday we're expecting snow flurries!
Most of my hosta look like it's still August! Some are yellowing but most are very normal looking!

I have a potted Ft. Knox, producing a scape that's not quite open yet! I wonder if it will make it
before the flurries? :o) Never had a hosta bloom this late in the season before!!!

Funny, yesterday was the last day for me too. Moved two Gold Standards, a Francee, Christmas Tree and Halcyon. I washed my shovel between plants with water/bleach to prevent spread of HVX since all but the Francee are new plants this year and Gold Standard is high on the HVX list. It is good to get everything done, but I too have some hosta that look pretty good. Was 38 degrees here last night, so the first freeze is not far away.

Today DH cleaned the gutters, seeded a big bald spot, and kept following me around the yard saying, "Okay, what else? And then are we done?"

So I guess we're done. :)

At least until it's time to put up the holiday lights.

The heater's in the fountain, the Halloween gear goes back into storage in the morning, the leaves will need one more raking (and the gutters perhaps one more cleaning, sorry, DH...), and now all I can do is feed the birds and read plant porn garden catalogs until April 15.

Well, and post pictures here, but I think most of the regulars stop reading right about now, right?

Not all of us go away, Lisa! I think during the holidays folks get pretty pre-occupied but it's just such
a *habit* for me to check in, everyday right after checking my email, that I pretty much keep
looking for some kind of traffic on here right on through!

You could join in the fun on the Conversation side, especially, and start some interesting off-topic threads
to keep those of us who just can't give up on this forum-- no way, no how!!! :o)

Got any good recipes to share with the regulars?

Oh, no, Janice, I don't cook. DH cooks.

I don't think I'll go over to the Conversation side because I have enough online addictions; I'll just stick with the Hosta Forum and try to stay on-topic. I have a bunch of pictures but I don't want to make the Old Faithfuls who stay into the fall mad at me if I repost the same pix next spring, when the whole gang is back!

Don't worry, Lisa! We never tire of pics., even those repeated! Well, at least I don't! Post away!

So, does your husband have any good recipes? :O)

Was out in the yard Sunday and my husband said my main hosta garden looked like a Halloween bed with all it's yellows and oranges. However I still have some hostas that are holding their own. My Sagae, Squash Casserole, and Metallica seem hardly bothered by the colder weather. We'll see how they look after today and yesterday's 45 mile an hour winds.

Many of my hostas are shades of yellow or orange. Others are down altogether--we've had three heavy frosts. First Frost and Halcyon are still looking good and that's not a great surprise. However, my George Smith is a big surprise. It looks as good as it did in summer! I do not know how many grow GS; it is a reverse of Frances Williams from UK. After four years it is about 4 ft. across with very large leaves and quite upright. Mine has been a slow grower. It is in full shade and I have never had any spring burning. A freeze with temps in the mid-twenties is forecast for tonight so it REALLY could be over for me by tomorrow.
Mark

Here in central Ohio, my hostas are still thriving! A few, Orange Marmalade, Paul's Glory, Great Expectations, Blue Mouse Ears and a few others, still look great!! Some, Kabitan, Fragrant Bouquet, Stained Glass and Guacamole, are still blooming! I don't remember my hostas lasting this long in past years. It's raining today and I'm so glad because I stopped watering about a month ago and it was getting rather dry.

Diane

Wow, can't believe you still have a nice looking BME, among others. My BME's have all gone dormant already and I just cleaned off all leaves and remaining scapes of my main Guacamole. And I'm in zone 8!

Yeah, it's 60 degrees out today! It's still raining off and on and the sun peeks out now and then. Hard to believe for November!!

Diane