September 2006
Ahhh... The push of summer is passing with an incredible rush of cooler temperatures
and the easing in of autumnal weather. Late hummingbirds still buzz around the
feeders, filling up for their next flight south. Blue jays rule the bird feeders.
Squirrels are bustling about gathering and stashing food for winter stock. Deer
are sporting coats, ever thickening and the antlers will soon be polished to
perfection. Many gardeners have predicted an early winter blowing in with lots
of snow. I hope so, but I try not to make predictions. Colorado's weather, so
lovely for the most part, is highly unpredictable. This growing season was unexpected
by me: a blessing of water, water, water producing flowers galore, heavy fruits
and crops. I wouldn't have predicted that weather in a thousand years.
Weather, more than anything, holds the key to "good" years in the
garden and "bad" years. Actually there is no "good" or "bad"
weather. Weather just IS. "Good" weather can bring more than flowers:
weeds, erosion problems, weeds, fungus issues, and soggy soil. Did I mention
weeds? There are weeds in my neighborhood that are taller than I am. Good thing
weeds have medicinal properties, build soil, some are edible and my rabbits
will eat their weight in weeds every day. So weeds aren't necessarily bad either,
but just a response to "good" weather.
The gardens this year have been beautiful. Simply beautiful. Summer displays
are at full tilt with many flowers still waiting to bloom, and others beginning
to show slight fading. Still others have begun their autumn turning to reds,
golds and browns. Roses are making hips and some of the shrubs and perennials
are sporting new colors in their leaves; reds, rusts and burgundies are moving
in with the cooler nights. Coneflowers and black eyed Susans stand on brown
stalks with their purple and gold petals beginning to drop. Those tough flowerheads
will stand all winter in testimony to the season of 2006, along with the ornamental
grasses.
After a month away in August, I have been running to regain my gardener footing,
joining the other devoted gardeners who have so tenderly seen to the flowers
and shrubs. There is still much to be done in the garden before winter arrives.
This time of year gardeners turn attention to grooming beds for the best fall
show, and making plans for next spring; planning new beds, moving plants about
the beds and ordering bulbs. We have already ordered a few hundred daffodils
and some specially requested alliums, but there is still plenty of time to order
whatever you would want for your garden. If you have bulbs you would like to
see next spring, now is the time to let us know.
Fall is in the air. The feel of each day in September is different from the
humming along of summer: June, July, August. September is a month to breath
deep the crispy cool evening air, and begin looking forward to the Autumn Equinox
and the turning of the season to shorter days and longer nights. We gardeners
are grateful for the good year and good harvests and we thank you for having
us in your gardens.
Trees are the Earth's endless effort to speak to the listening heaven.