Some attempts at protecting tender vegetation may seem futile. Previous weather patterns suggest, however, that the first freeze is often followed by extended periods of relative warmth. Who knows if that will hold true in this unusual year, but it's worth a try. Because the cool summer has prevented normal ripening of crops such as tomatoes, peppers and eggplants, it may be even more important to extend the lives of these plants to salvage a semblance of a normal harvest.

Right now I'm piling old sheets and tablecloths on my back porch. I'll drape them over containers of annual flowers and over the rows of vegetables. To prevent the weight of the fabric from breaking the plants, I insert bamboo stakes beneath, then secure them with clothespins and bag clips. I use bricks, rocks or boards to anchor the sheets to the ground so that wind doesn't blow them off during a frosty night. Enclosed in a cotton tent, the plants can survive temperatures well below freezing, thanks to the warmth of the soil.

If cold weather really takes over, harvest everything, including vegetables that still aren't ripe. Many people enjoy eating fried green tomatoes, but many will ripen if spread on newspapers in a cool, dry room. Pick as much stem with the tomato as possible. I've often had a good supply of homegrown tomatoes as late as Thanksgiving.

At some point, decide which plants should come inside for the winter. Don't bother with true annuals such as marigolds and petunias, but certainly endeavor to find a sunny window for valuable tropical plants. I save hundreds of plants, including bougainvillea, angel trumpets, dracaenas, bananas, geraniums, dwarf citrus trees, flowering maples and many, many others. It's worth the effort since these plants are expensive to replace. In addition, they eventually grow into large, truly valuable specimens that are all-but-impossible to purchase at any price.

Although the first freeze is often a depressing time, try to look it as the beginning of the next growing season. It'll soon be time to plant spring-flowering bulbs such as tulips and daffodils. In addition, fall is an excellent time to plant perennials, trees and shrubs. Life goes on in the garden, even after the first freeze.