My "pet" toads(all named Toady) have been visiting my toad motel all summer. Last week, when I was clearing my potato patch, there must have been 6 or seven of them hopping around. In exchange for modest shelter and water, they have been eating garden pests all summer. I didn't see any today. However I piled straw and soil on the toad house and filled the water, just in case they need it. The pictures were taken in August.

We are all preparing for winter now. I have brussel sprouts and kale which is still yielding. However, the rest of the plot needed to be weeded, dug over and mulched. My initial plot was a half size. Encouraged by a wonderful first season, I have asked for, and been granted the adjoining half plot which came available. I have dug over both plots and added straw and leaf mulch to condition the soil. This morning I planted garlic which I am hoping will yield some tasty greens in spring and garlic cloves a year from now.

Well, spring turned to summer, summer to autumn and harvest time. Peas, beans, beetroot, kale and a large crop of potatoes. A hard frost early in September took a toll on the vulnerable plants all across our garden.😪 I lucked out with a gift green tomatoes no one else wanted. That yielded a dozen jars of pickle.