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Although this could very well be a picture of me finding a new treasure at a favorite nursery, it's actually an illustration by David Catrow for a children's book called Plantzilla.

Thursday, October 6, 2016

To All To Each Sooner or Later


Rains have returned but there are still some sunny moments to savor.  Nights are growing cooler and I dragged out a sweater to wear to work yesterday.  The light part of the day grows ever shorter and there is little time (soon to be none) after work to do garden tasks.

Plants that will continue through the winter have replaced summer annuals and tropical lovelies in pots.

Evergreens and ornamental kale/cabbage replace brugmansias and tuberous begonias by the back door. 

The pond must be skimmed of falling leaves at least twice a day.  

It's a messy time in the garden.

Some trees haven't begun taking on autumn colors yet. 

In the far background, the coral barked maple is in glorious gold.

The Linden in the side yard didn't put on much of a show this year but is now throwing leaves all over the place.

Danger gardenette area is ready for winter.  Most if the inhabitants have moved inside.  There's no denying it; autumn is upon us. Death's season.

Come lovely and soothing death,
Undulate round the world,
serenely arriving, arriving,
In the day, in the night, to all, to each,
Sooner or later delicate death.

-Walt Whitman from "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d"

20 comments:

  1. Love that second photo with the window and lattice. Leaves and pods and little branches are falling daily here.

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  2. Peter, I'm supposed to be exercising, but then I had to sit down and see all the posts I've missed and one thing led to another and here it is almost an hour later. I feel like I exercised; going along on all of your adventures, getting plants in the greenhouse for winter, seeing all the work you've done. Your stained glass is phenomenal! I love the round room and the windows are perfection.

    This time of year is filled with indecision and melancholia for me; I can never decide when to pull the plug on the garden. Even when I know if I wait too long I'll be cursing myself as I work in thirty degree weather digging bulbs with frozen fingers. On my way back from the pond this morning I was dismayed by all the work still facing me; and the weeds...good grief. I'm happy to see you've got your garden ready for winter, this is the encouragement I needed. :-)

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    1. There's still a lot of work to do but I got an earlier start this year. If I were a smarter gardener, I'd only grow things that are hardy here and this seasonal change would be minimal. Gardening in a cold winter climate like you do brings a nice rest period from gardening.

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  3. You have some really pretty fall color in your trees (and on the ground, out of the trees too). I never did clean out last year's oak leaves from under the oak tree. I'm going to have to clean up two year's worth now.

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    1. Sounds like too much work. You could leave them and consider them natural organic mulch and part of your permaculture scheme.

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  4. I'm inspired by your fall & winter prep. Now if I could just act. I have some plants to get into a new bed, and looks like this weekend might be just the ticket. I'm such a baby when it starts getting cold and wet--something I always forget until it happen. Oooooh, that's why people take care of the big move sooner rather than later. Yours is looking good.

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    1. Thanks Patricia. I've still got quite a few plants to get into the ground too. Hopefully we'll have some dry periods this weekend!

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  5. You are Johnny on the spot this year, with ornamental kale/cabbage already in place... The Heuchera in the first picture has the most amazing color. Do you know which one it is?

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    1. The Heuchera is 'Forever Purple' I got one last year and absolutely loved it so picked up three more this year at Watson's 40% off sale.

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  6. Thanks for the glimpse of your home with the beautiful windows, the lattice work, and the railing. Yes, autumn is messy here in Wisconsin, too. I haven't started raking yet, but even the Oaks are beginning to drop their leaves. Your garden is stunning even in this season of senescing. I like the touches of blue throughout. And the pond is glorious!

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    1. Thanks! It's always fun to share! We're lucky out here in the mild pacific northwest that we have lots of things that look good through the coldest months of the year.

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  7. Am I the only one who welcomes Fall? Things look beautiful at your place, a few leaves just give a new view of how things are.

    Lay a piece of hardware cloth over the pond and just lift up the leaves now and then. If there are visitors, stick the hardware cloth behind a bush.

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    1. Fall in the hot summer south means that you mostly stay out of the garden so fall would be wonderful for you because you can get out and play once more. Here, fall is a herald of rain, short daylight hours, and more staying inside. Fall is a beautiful season;what follows is not so wonderful for gardening.

      Love your idea about the hardware cloth!

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  8. Always love the long shots of your garden. It's a magical place.

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    1. Thanks. I always think it looks way to disorganized and random.

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  9. "Rains have returned" - *SIGH* Still, I'm glad to see that everything wasn't scooped up in the great migration and moved into the greenhouse. Fall may be messy but it's also beautiful.

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    1. I wish you'd get some rain! I'm cool with messy.

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  10. We don't see enough long shots of your garden, it is beautiful! The big autumn tidy has arrived here and I'm trying to get some work done each day before the frost arrives. Today's job is to clean out the greenhouse so that a few more plants can be brought in and I can start sowing seeds.
    I like autumn because I'm preparing for spring!!

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  11. Nice to see some shots of your garden. I rather like this time of the year,there is still plenty to enjoy. November is the death month for me. Cheery poem.

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  12. Now that we are back home, the work in the garden awaits. But now the light is fleeting, the rain is cold and the sun lacks warmth. I will have to work up the desire to tackle it all.
    Your "mess" is so lovely!

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Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I love to hear your thoughts.