And so it has again here in our cozy little spot in Eastern Washington. Some of my last roses of summer are even more beautiful and showy now than the first ones that bloomed in early spring. It's like they don't want to give up yet. "Please, just a few more days, maybe even weeks," they beg.
Our lovely autumn days of late have only served to make me wish they could last forever. And, that the cold winter chill I know will soon follow could somehow be stayed by a divine act of Mother Nature.
But alas! Old Jack Frost touched down several nights ago, burnishing the tips of my profusely blooming Pink Simplicity roses. The creamy white Chicago Peace and velvety red American Beauty roses look a tad bit droopy as well. Lush green wisteria leaves are beginning to fall, carpeting our deck with shades of gold and yellow. The Japanese red maple will soon follow suit, along with my pink flowering cherry tree and pink flowering almond.
I will sorely miss my hummers and butterflies that have graced our yard all summer, performing their carefree fluttering and diving acts just for my pleasure, I'm sure. Even the bees are sluggish now, seeking places to hibernate, probably in the eaves of the house as usual. I won't miss their acrobatics!
So, what's a gardener to do this time of year in my part of the world? Here, where Old Man Winter is bound to bring deep snowdrifts that will soon cover my sleeping flower beds with a cold, stark white blanket. Here, where the branches of my beautiful weeping white birch tree will soon be laden with frozen snow and long icicles, replacing the bright golden leaves that now grace them. Soon too, the soft green needles--now turning a golden yellow--will have fallen from the flowing long skirt of my unique Norway weeping larch in the center of my front yard rose garden. My garden tools will be safely stowed on their shelf in the garage by the end of October, together with my well-worn gardening gloves and comfortable old Reeboks.
So, what's to do next? Read on, my friend!
I can soon sit and rest in my favorite chair next to the cozy earth stove in our dining room. A crackling fire of fragrant apple wood or fresh cut fir logs will be warming my tootsies as I sip some French vanilla hot chocolate. From this vantage point, I can watch our WINTER birds, already jockeying for positions at their favorite feeders on our backyard fence.
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