First frost

Yesterday morning was the first (light) frost of the year. I was not even aware it was going to get that cold! I guess I was just not paying attention, i.e. watching the news. The temps officially got down to 33 degrees F, which to me means in some areas it did freeze.

Happily, it didn't do too much damage to my more tender plants at home. Just a  twinge of grey and wilt on a few spaghetti squash leaves. The tomatoes stayed relatively unscathed.

However, my tomatoes at the community garden raised bed (ORB) were affected. When I visited I noted a good amount of dieback in the outermost, newest leaves.

So, last night I was paying attention, and I laid protective sheets over all my tomatoes last night -- both at home and in the ORB. I'm going to do what it takes to shield my tomatoes through the winter this year.

Anybody know the right thing to do with dead/frozen tomato leaves? Remove or let remain?

Seriously though

It's the middle of the night, and here I am realizing I have gotten way too behind on my projects. For a number of reasons.

1. The summer in the desert is really hot. I know, excuses, excuses. But you can't go outside to do anything that requires physical labor from about 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. And I am not an early riser/morning person -- never have been, never will be. So turning the compost a couple times a week? Maybe not. Building new raised garden beds? Hmmmm. Pruning my citrus? Unh-uh. Constructing a solar oven? Call me in October.
2. I lost my camera. Posting feels so sad without pictures!
3. I've been on vacation. Being away from the computer for a large portion of August has been wonderful. I don't regret it at all. NEXT!
4. I just moved in July. A million things still need to be unpacked or nailed to the wall or filed or shelved. My house needs to get in order.
5. The dog ate my motivation. 

Seriously though, after checking my posts from 2010, I slowed down quite a bit last summer, too. It's just the way of life out here when it gets hot, dude. I'm taking it easy until the equinox.

Good (or bad) timing?

So I planted seeds on Sunday, and by Wednesday night 0.62 inches of rain had fallen.

Palm Desert, CA 92111
Almanac Precipitation
Last 24 hours: 0.22 in.
Month to Date: 0.62 in.

Hopefully half my seeds didn't get washed away. I went by late Tuesday afternoon and everything seemed fine. We shall see.