After surrendering momentarily to frost, Bai Juyi and Tu Fu came back up from the 6 inch plants I left. Li Bai succumbed. Li Ho — who grows closer to a sun-warmed wall — has been growing this whole time, but tonight the temps will be below freezing and tomorrow as well, and then? I’m not fighting it any more.
Li Ho 
Tu Fu coming back
I just went out to tell them goodbye and thank them for everything. They didn’t leave me empty-handed, either. I have 43 beans for next year (yes, I counted them). Though some don’t seem fully matured, I’m grateful for all the green beans of the summer, these beautiful purple and black beans for next year, and the company my beans gave me during this strange year.
Night Snow
Tu Fu
I was surprised my quilt and pillow were cold,
I see that now the window’s bright again.
Deep in the night, I know the snow is thick,
I sometimes hear the sound as bamboo snaps.
Nice crop, well done beans!
❤
The beans are so pretty! No wonder they were poets! I hope the cold holds off just one more week so that you can enjoy then a little longer…
No such luck. I pulled them out this morning and reconfigured the garden so it will be better next year. But Li Ho gave me four more. ❤
This is very touching, Martha! Here in TX, I’m just now growing some bush beans, according to local suggestions. We’ll see. They’re just in a big pot, so won’t be nearly as tall and impressive as yours!
Bush beans are a lot more practical if you really want BEANS. My neighbors grow them and freeze them and give them away. Considering the size of the plant, Scarlet emperor beans don’t seem to be very prolific bean makers. I’m going to try next summer in a sunnier spot. I pulled them out this morning and fixed up the garden as I would have in the spring if I’d known what I was going to do before I did it. 🙂
Always fun to hunker down for winter and then have spring to look forward to.
I love winter so I am definitely looking forward to it. 🙂
I can see why, with all that natural beauty around you!
It is really magical. ❤