Cultivating Patience in the Garden

I don't know why it is, but once our first killing frost hits and I dig up the tender bulbs and plant the hardy ones, my mind starts telling me that gardening season is over. My husband is still talking about Indian Summer, but he's been asking about that since September so it has lost its motivational power.

Now my mind wanders more naturally to things like good garden books to tide me over winter, or plans to change old gardens or start new ones that I can plot out while everything is buried in snow.

I am premature.

Yesterday the sun was shining, the sky was blue and it looked like a gorgeous day in June - at least from my second floor window. But all I can see from that window is a tall hemlock tree and the mountains in the distance - so there is nothing to disillusion me.

Outside, though - and I am pulled out of my chair and down the back steps with an unquenchable urge to enjoy the sunshine - I discover the need for a jacket.

But that is not all that I discover. There are surprises everywhere.

Right outside my door are two patches of bright color. The first is from a flat of Icicle pansies that I planted several weeks ago. The catalog swore they would give me great fall color but only three days ago I had checked to find nothing but a small pale blue viola to delight the eye. Today they are in full chorus, deep and pale blues, golds, yellows and oranges, royal purples - a sonata in color. They are supposed to repeat this performance again in Spring.

Just beyond that are the sad remains of hostas going dormant. The gigantic but desiccated foliage of 'Sum and Substance' has hidden another surprise from me until now. Behind it is a patch of purple crocus - autumn crocuses planted so long ago that I forgot all about them until now. These are Crocus sativus - the famous saffron crocus whose stamens provide the little golden threads of saffron - a spice so costly that in many grocery stores it is stored in a safe in the manager's office until someone requests it. A large-ish patch of saffron crocus, carefully harvested, night provide enough seasoning for a single meal. But that and the delight of unexpected, spring-like color make them more precious than whatever dollar value they may have.

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