Autumnal Acts

After a couple of days of summer like days last week, the temperature is now distinctly autumnal. About time I say. With all the weather fluctuations and uncertainties we are experiencing, it’s been hard to determine how long to put off certain seasonal chores or how soon to get them done. The leaves are only just starting to turn color which is kinda late. I looked at photos from last year to confirm. So who knows what to expect anymore.

Not willing to take my chances, I’ve been forging ahead with my October chores. The plants that spend the winter in the greenhouse are now all tucked inside. As for the ones from the vertical garden – they’ve been taken down, cut back severely and bedded down in the cleaned up vegetable bed. Emptied, cleaned and dried pots have been put away till the spring. As I work, I take note of things that need to be replaced or restocked – they will be obtained shortly and kept ready for action as soon as gardening starts in the spring. Gloves, vine clips, watering wand, vermiculite … the list grows.

A couple of new plants have been introduced to the perennial beds and a good amount of weeding done as well. Noting that the climbing rose on the arch at the entrance to the potager was struggling due to all the shade from the neighbor’s cedar tree that has grown significantly, it’s going to come out soon and relocated to join its sister rose at the arch in the front. A native trumpet honeysuckle purchased yesterday will occupy its vacated spot – I can already see it in bloom with its yellow throated orange-red trumpets drawing hummingbirds, butterflies and bees in droves. Fingers crossed!

Having completed these chores gives me a little break to enjoy the flowers still blooming their hearts out. The asters are sparkling joyously in the autumn sunshine and are hosting all kinds of bees. When I went to pick some flowers to bring inside, it was hard to find an insect free cluster to clip. Joy.

Sitting in the warmth of the sun and watching the leaves pirouette in the breeze has got to be one of the singular pleasures of the season.

It’ll be time soon enough for the annual cut back of the ‘meadow’ and the bulb-planting marathon. So I’m happy for the current respite.

With an eye to the winter months spent primarily indoors, I’m bringing bits of the garden into the house. Starting with arm loads of hydrangea and letting them dry in the vases to potting up bulbs to force an early spring, I’m determined to keep the winter blues at bay.

Myrtle topiaries in the kitchen, orchids in an urn in the dining room, aforesaid hydrangea in the living room, a jasmine in the upstairs living room-my office, its already looking cheerful. Paperwhites and amaryllis will bring holiday glamour in due course.

For someone who is seriously affected by the lack of light in winter, I try to do everything I can to keep my spirits up. Yes, I do make sure to take a long walk everyday, expose myself to light first thing in the morning etc., but having bits of my garden keep me company is positively life affirming.

And now, I must go forth and smell the Brugamansia in the greenhouse. Intoxicating.

Indoor joy –