The Fall Garden

The Garden Should Be Asleep About Now.. But Is It?

Fall in Michigan means a dormant garden .. but this year it is anything but dormant.

After a period of unseasonal cold weather when the frost hit earlier than usual ...striking down all the tender plants like the Heavenly Blue Morning glory .. the weather leveled out and even has gone above the norm to the point the garden is now trying to send new blooms out.

The bluebells are blooming again. The snapdragons are sending out new buds like mad. Alyssum is going wild as is the Blue Star stepable ground cover with the wonderful dainty little flowers I planted this summer.

Much of the garden has been able to be cleared out but a lot will be left to be used as snow accents.

There is something very attractive about the fountain grass sheathed in soft snow.

We also like to string cranberries and popcorn and lay it over the sedum plants that grow so tall and straight. The birds also like that .. especially the little chickadees that stay around snow and all.

Winter will be hitting soon. That we can be sure of ... so the tender perennials have been protected by frames and burlap .. specifically the tender roses that have such a hard time making it through our Michigan winters.

The dahlia bulbs as well as the peacock orchid bulbs have been pulled and put into the basement for safekeeping from the cold.

There is always a great feeling of satisfaction to know the garden is ready to sleep .. and a wonderful sense of anticipation is just ready to seep out as winter comes and the short days slowly get shorter and the feeling of cabin fever hits sometime afer the holidays.

It is then my mind will just naturally begin to float toward the promise of beautiful flowers once more.

Gardening is a wonderful thing.

Gardening and Stress Relief

Gardening as a source of stress relief is a well known fact with gardeners.

If you are living under stress caused by something you have no control over gardening is a great hobby to turn to to give you release. Just the thought of digging in the rich earth .. you will find once you have begun to garden.... erases everything negative affecting you ... at least temporarily.

You get a period of complete peace .. and even if you know it is only a temporary peace .. you also know it will be there to reach out to whenever you may need it.

If you are not in an area to try this now... after all it is winter .... begin with those gardening magazines or catalogs. Browse them then begin to picture where you will put your garden in your yard. If you don't have a yard that you cna garden in.... then plan garden pots for your patio.. porch or deck.. or even your windowills. Window boxes make lovely wonderful gardens.

Put your plans on paper. You will get many tips and ideas from the magazines or catalogs you have acquired.

When the weather permits ... begin the garden you have planned in your head and on paper.

You will find you need no other source of stress relief than that ... in many cases.

Have fun... and let the world go away .... while you give your mind, emotions and heart a rest .. digging in the good earth ... learning that gardening and stress relief go together.

Where Has The Time GONE???

Winter in its full wonder... everything sleeping beneath the wonderful blanket of snow... and I cannot believe the last post here was in May of LAST year.

Happy New Year .. everyone.

Garden stuff in the middle of winter? Well.. the days are getting longer now so .... spring IS on its way. It is too soon of course to do anything with the garden other than look at the gardening catalogs that are beginning to show up in the mailbox now .. and dig in the heels against the temptation to make a list and order everything beautiful in them.

Planning for any new flowers can begin now.. in your mind at least .. if not on paper. You can draw a diagram of your garden and decide if you have room for more plants. If there just isn't any .. and if the need to have more is absolute.. then you will just have to dig more yard out!

Oh.. just tell him that it only will mean less grass for him to mow. That may even give him the incentive to offer to dig for you when the time comes.

Enjoy those catalogs .. and enjoy the winter. Put your feet up by the warm fire .. and you will be able to feel the sun's heat in the summer to come.

Winter is a great season .. even if you may not like the cold.