maybe a little later. We usually don't get snow until toward the end of October, but generally we have a frost before then. Back in the old days, our growing season was considered Memorial Day to Labor Day, but now we've added on a couple weeks at both ends.

Do you have any problems with rats in you compost?

just lots of earthworms. We do get field mice and voles in the house sometimes, though. They're cute, but I'd rather they didn't come in here.

chewed holes in my plastic compost bin to get at the vegetable scraps.

at the bottom of a trash bag eating candy wrappers. . They're tricky.

Have you all recovered from the fire yet?

camp fire.

They do so well here. The climate is perfect for them.

I always have found that my shrubs/perennials plants are at a peak in June. But by mid - late summer, everything starts looking tired and not as fresh and green. lol

Your garden looks great!

so the garden changes. Like now the forget-me-nots are almost done, so I'll cut them back and other things will come up around them.

but still... by the late summer, the foliage from the trees and shrubs look all tired and worn out, despite the flowers from the late bloomers or re-bloomers...

It's still fun though - especially planting for butterflies and hummingbirds!