The colors outside are beginning to smolder beautifully. Such a wonderful time of year. The past week it has hit 80 and frosted. Tender annuals are starting to die, and the new perennials are soaking up the last warmth, digging their roots deep before the upcoming cold. We may not see 80 again before next May or June, but the more seasons that pass, the greater my faith that despite a first frost in the Fall, there will also definitely be a last frost in the Spring. The Spring, Summer, and Fall this year have been full of beautiful days, maybe more than previous years, or maybe this is the first year in years that I actually experienced so many of those days. I guess there is finally a reward at the end of over a decade of education and training and having babies.
The transition from warm to cold, as marked by the end of sundresses and sandals and sunhats, and the start of boots and corduroy and stocking hats, happened with a trip to Door County, Wisconsin, for a friend's wedding. (Her use of eucalyptus and locally grown flowers to decorate was outstanding, by the way.) The leaves were just starting to change, but being before the frost, we got to enjoy the full glory of garden plots designed with Fall tourists in mind.
So what are the tasks now that the first hard frost is coming up in the next few days?
Dig up and pot herbs to have inside; the houseplant stand has become kitchen herb stand.
Collect bouquets.
Plant Spring bulbs, mulch things, finish outside projects, clean up the vegetable garden, and enjoy the view!
