Don't know about you, but the older I get, the harder it is to accept change. The past few weeks have been a learning curve because, we finally gave in, bought a new computer and upgraded to Windows 7. We've gone wireless too...what a great word heh!! The wider screen took a bit of getting used to but the zippy speed, that's wonderful. I've been keeping 'her' (well she is purple :-), on the kitchen table for now, which I wouldn't say is a mistake but my eyes keep lifting to the garden. When the weather changed back to summer (yup, weather's been just so odd this fall), I did something I never do this late...I tidied up.
There are a lot of pro's and con's to fall clean up. Comparing my garden to my neighbour K's, hers suffers very little insect damage, and I must admit to being a little envious of it's "put to bed look" tidy and neat waiting for spring when she won't have any cleanup to do at all. Mine does have insect damage but over the years has bounced ahead and become quite lush. Seed heads are left for birds and winter interest; bugs sleep waiting to plague me next year. Not cutting down the ornamental grasses gives them a better chance to survive, their crowns protected from freeze and thaw cycles. Although tempted to remove the dead tomato stalks on the back wall, imagining snow tracing their outlines stopped me. But, do I want all that work in spring?..would I be happier with a more...controlled and tidy aspect?
So this year, I have tried K's idea, just in the front beds of the veg garden, this giving me an opportunity to plant fragrant tulips, Ballerina. It felt wonderful working garden muscles again..dirt back under my fingernails, the smell of organic damp all around.
There is a change of attitude within as well.... I find myself humming Johnny Cash.."at my door, the leaves are falling". Blue sky days and bright sun show the best of reds..the dogwood trees are outstanding.
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| Cornus Milkyway in Autumn's Glow |
