Hello, fellow gardeners. It’s that time of year…the time of year when the readership of garden-related websites starts to wain. I’m not worried, I know you’ll be back again in the spring. I wanted to reassure the few of you who are still out there, lurking around Playing in the Dirt, that I will not be disappearing all winter long. There is still a lot in the natural world to explore and photograph and share with you all.
Posting has been light (okay, it’s been non-existent) for the last week or so, because things at home are a bit nuts right now. As soon as November hits a huge weight will be off my shoulders and things will be better, and I’ll be able to focus again.
The autumn colours are really intense in some areas where I live these days. I was driving on the 401 today and the sky was gray but the leaves on the trees nearby were just amazing. There was one large maple, with fiery orange leaves right next to a huge, towering blue spruce and the contrast of those two colours together reminded me instantly of being in London, Ontario, where I went to school and of being on campus in the fall. Isn’t it funny how colours and sounds and smells can transport you back in time? I wished I could pull over to photograph these trees but I didn’t have my camera with me, and I didn’t think the OPP would appreciate it much.
I spent some time a couple of days ago in the back yard vegetable plot, ripping out the last of the Banana Leggs tomatoes, and double-digging that part of the garden to plant my garlic, finally, and as soon as I got the bed ready, wouldn’t you know it? It started to rain. I grabbed my garden buddy, Farley, and we dashed inside. I’m going to try to get that garlic planted this weekend. In planting the garlic, I’ve started to think about my garden design for next summer. Not so much the perennials, because they pretty much take care of themselves. I’ve been thinking about being a little more creative with the vegetable garden, thinking about garden design in a new way.
Almost all of my tender houseplants that I keep outside all summer have been brought indoors. This includes a Chinese 5-colour hot pepper, rosemary and scented geranium, among others. They are crowded together in my dining room window, where they get the southwestern exposure they know and love.
I’ve been harvesting bunches of herbs, and now their green, leafy stems are hanging cheerfully in the kitchen. Farley was especially happy to discover that one of the bunches is catnip for him. He is not finicky when it comes to catnip. He appreciates it fresh or dried.
I have planted my large chrysanthemums in the ground, and their brilliant burgundy blooms add a real punch to my otherwise fading perennial border. I’m hopeful they will survive the winter and return for next year’s show.
I hope you’ll hang in there with me over the remainder of autumn and through the long Canadian winter. If you have any questions you’d like me to address here, I’d be happy to receive them in an e-mail or comment.
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I have always heard that one plants garlic on the shortest day of the year. Never worked for me when I lived in Cleveland, and doesn’t work here in Ca. either. Living up in Canada (right?) does the garlic survive the winter ok? It doesn’t rot?
Debra, this is the first year I’ve actually planted my own garlic, but several gardeners in the community garden grow it, so it must be okay over the winter, just like other spring bulbs, like daffodils and tulips, etc.
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