Gratitude and Blessings
Halloween has come and gone, the squirrels’ bellies are full of our pumpkins and acorns are treasured finds. The sidewalks are still lined with bright, crunchy leaves and the chill in the air lingers longer. The light is lower and less intense, allowing the oak leaves to glimmer their reddish bronze. Swiss chard, lettuce and perhaps the last radish harvest are brought in. Soups are simmering and our last bit of kale is added. Our sprinklers have been winterized. Our gardens have been put to rest.
Autumn. The skeletons of our gardens reveal themselves. The rose’s bright orange hips, the hydrangea’s dried flower clusters and the ornamental grasses stand tall amid the cold, crisp air. Gratitude and blessings.
November is quiet in the garden. This stillness allows for us to see and feel the structure and hierarchy of our gardens (or, lack thereof). What does it look like now that all of the blooms are dried and the textures have wilted? Once all of the leaves are either raked into the garden beds to insulate the plants or hauled off to the leaf drop, the landscape becomes stark. The leaves are gone, the perennials are cut back and the evergreens are still, securing the permanency of the gardens.
November is a time of reflection. The chilly air compels us to go inside. We turn inward and we contemplate what is. Gratitude and blessings. Gratitude for living in Park Hill, amongst the mature oaks and maples and lindens. Appreciation for our autumn season and the colors that inspire awe. The raining of yellow leaves. The diversity of our neighbors and the vast array of gardens that are bestowed on us. Simple pleasures that we take for granted – our homes and our families. Blessings.
As the clocks fall back and we turn inward, we can gaze out our windows and take in our outdoor space. We can plant the seed in our minds of what and how our exterior places can become. If done this winter and implemented this spring, the season can be used for pleasure and relaxation…not just digging and hauling.
A native of Park Hill, Marne is a professional horticulturist who cultivates her own plot on Dexter street, where gardens and two kids grow. She can be reached at marnenorquist@gmail.com.
NOVEMBER GARDEN TIPS
• Rake fallen leaves into garden beds to be used as a winter mulch. Or, drop them off at various leaf-drop locations.
• Harvest the last crops for the season.
• Prepare garden tools for next season (sharpen and clean).
• Add at least 2” of mulch if you haven’t done so, already.
• Deep-root water your trees and shrubs to make sure they receive adequate moisture before going into dormancy and before the ground freezes.