Sandy Strauss
I’ve spent at least part of the last few weekends closing down the garden for winter. The days are beautiful, but there is an unmistakable chill in the air that signals that freezing temperatures–and probably snow, at some point–aren’t far behind.
I just finished doing cutting back the dead and dying foliage from one of the beds in the backyard. By the time I was finishing, the sun was already down–earlier than ever, of course, with the change back from daylight savings time. The sky at this time of year is spectacular during that twilight time. If it hadn’t been so cold, I would have loved to sit out back and watch the sky till darkness had descended completely. I would love to be able to have a place where I could build a bonfire at this time of year and huddle up close with hot cider or mulled wine.
I love the smell of fall. I love the colors. This year the colors have lasted longer than usual. I’m amazed that there are still so many leaves hanging on, and most of them are the near fluorescent reds and oranges. Earlier the yellows were glorious, but they are mostly gone. I especially love the aspens–they flutter in the wind, and the rustling is a calming sound. Three weeks ago we decided to make the trip to the Finger Lakes to take advantage of the leaves (and the wine!)–the changeover is earlier because they are just a bit further north, and a bit higher elevation. It was great to experience the height of fall colors twice!
Last weekend I pulled all the tomatoes that were large enough to save–mostly green–and brought them in to ripen. They won’t be good for eating fresh, but they’ll be fine for canning or making sauce. I also pulled all the peppers that were ready or close. We still have some broccoli and some greens. I’m looking forward to trying the parsnips. I dug up and moved a hydrangea that was in too sunny a place, and moved it to a place where I think it will do better. I moved another plant that was in the wrong place to where the hydrangea was. It will do well there. I moved the plants that weren’t doing so well in the Tigger Garden (because they were shade plants that weren’t in the shade after we cut down the peach tree from that part of the yard). They are now along the wall by the garages, where they will spread and fill in and–I hope–keep the weeds from continuing to take over. Mounds of dying black-eyed susans, Russian sage, other sage, bee balm, peppermint and catnip got cut back as well. Dave trimmed the raspberries.
Today, I picked what may be the last of the raspberries. That is especially sad. We love having fresh raspberries for breakfast. We have lots of frozen ones, however, that we’ll use over the winter. We have many jars of raspberry preserves. When we’re having an attack of waiting/hoping for summer, we might even make some raspberry sorbet. I also brought up some broccoli that we’ll have for dinner.
I actually started thinking about a fire. I’m tired, and probably won’t bother, but it’s tempting. I need to make dinner, and we’ll have leftover turkey (from Dave’s surprise 60th birthday party last night), fresh (really fresh!) broccoli, and acorn squash. Yum! Maybe some apple pie (double yum!)
Maybe it isn’t so sad after all…
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