Next Year: The Motivation for Autumn Preparations

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In the brief space between Halloween and November 4, Autumn came to southwest Indiana. The weather turned cool and rainy, the trees transformed from green to gold. Then, we had a few, just a very few of those days when you know you are blessed to be alive: the golden ballet of leaves dancing, twirling to the ground against a backdrop of absolutely perfect blue sky.

Yesterday was one of those perfect days. Wonderful Husband took advantage of the weather to gather up leaves with his brand spankin’ new John Deere riding mower. It’s a beast and is likely the last lawn mower we’ll ever buy…when it’s worn out, we’ll be worn out too and ready for the nursing home.

Preparing for the Winter

I put away yard art, so frost and cold couldn’t damage it. Then I cleaned up the garden beds somewhat: cut back the hostas which had already yellowed and the Solomon’s Seal. I transplanted some irises and moved one lily bulb to a more open spot. Mostly, I just looked around and found a few late season miracles – like the yellow iris blooming as if it was late May (and it’s just one of my old, heirloom irises, not a modern rebloomer).

The zinnias, those bright, brave souls, don’t know when to quit – which was a good thing for the three Monarch butterflies I spotted. I wished the Monarchs “Godspeed” on their unimaginably long and hazardous journey and was glad the zinnias were available for a quick snack.  Then, I cut the iris and a few zinnias for 2018’s last bouquet with a bit of sadness and a bit of satisfaction – it had been a good year.

I pulled out the Roma tomato plants, which I hope were appreciated by the deer and squirrels, because we never got to eat even one. This clearly shows we have to do a MUCH better job critter-proofing our garden next year (at least if we want tomatoes)!

The herbs I planted in the new raised bed were a success. We had Thai basil, Genovese basil, parsley, thyme, oregano and dill. I kept looking for Eastern swallowtail caterpillars on the parsley and dill, which are host plants for that species. I never saw any, but maybe next year…

Looking to the Future

Next year…isn’t that what gardeners always think? Next year, when the next, new garden bed is ready and the tomatoes grow big and red and fat. Or next year, when I can plant blueberry and blackberry bushes. Next year, when the plants will grow green and strong and tall and bloom incessantly. Next year will be better.

May you never lose the sight of next year, or that illogical optimism that keeps us looking through the garden catalogs and eyeing the sky for rain during a drought. The need to turn towards the earth to dig and plant that makes us forget about the deer, the squirrels, the weeds, the drought, the insects and the muscle aches because next year…next year will be better.

Stay Green, Good Friends.

Meet Dona Bergman

Dona Bergman is a founding member, Southwest Indiana Chapter of the Indiana Native Plant & Wildlife Society, and an Advanced Master Gardener.

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