Still waiting

How well I know what I mean to do
when the long dark autumn-evenings come.

— Robert Browning

I spent a little time yesterday afternoon and took cuttings from the portaluca and basil, hoping to get them both overwinter. I’ll collect some basil seed pods as a backup. This variety (‘Pesto Perpetuo’) has done spectacularly well. Beautiful variegated leaves, tall as can be, and it didn’t start setting blooms until late in the summer. Tastes really nice too. I’m going to try, once again, to save and propagate some fig cuttings too. The original tree has gotten a little out of hand and I’d really like to try again somewhere else. It dies back to the ground every winter but will be back at 10' or more by the end of the summer. Fruit has been a little variable. There’s a fair number on there now but they’re all really small, probably because of the dry conditions this year. As I write this, it’s 80 outside. We’re supposed to get some rain this weekend but I watered everything anyway.

The wind-down outside has me pivoting a bit harder towards the houseplants, most of which have been moved back inside. Took some cuttings from the snake plant and am keen to see how they do. Likewise with some of the succulents outside which set pups this year. New additions this week: spider plant and hoya. The terraria got some TLC as well. I will try very hard not to fill the house completely with plants but I make no guarantees.

Petwise: one of the doofus dogs messed up his sutures so he’s back in the Cone of Repentance.

Bookwise: Casares, slowly. I have some cross-country business travel coming up in a couple of weeks and may switch it up then.

Otherwise: We had some flooring replaced downstairs and that’s mostly over so things are nearly back to normal.