Skeletons

Yes, Yes I know, All Hallows Eve is here soon but this is not the subject I'm talking about.

Nights are drawing in, cold weather, rain and gloom sneak up on us while we still hang on hard to Summer and its pompous floral memories. People look forward to Spring at this time of year and go into a gardening hibernation, dreaming of Daffodils, Muscari and Tulips, seeds to be sown and Summer plantings.

Why do so many dislike this time of year? Why is the onset of frost such a terrible thing? It isn't death, its a well earned rest for those vegetable friends who have served us well over the sunniest time of the year.

I like all the seasons but I have to say that rather than dreaming of Spring, I'm looking forward to the garden in late Autumn and Winter.

No, I'm not off my trolley. The one thing that gets my giddy goat this time of year is seeing people 'tidying up' the garden. Alliums, poppies, angelica, grasses and all those wonderful plants which gave a structure to the garden in Summer but now go brown and refuse to die back, all go under the knife. Such foolishness! Not only do plant skeletons provide cover for perennial crowns and food for local wildlife, but they still decorate the garden even through the darkest days. Am I lazy? Well, yes that is a factor of course, but so much is missed in being neat.

What is more magical than waking up in the clear crisp morning and seeing the whole garden skeleton clothed in a white, glittering sugar frosting?

Instant transportations to Nania are not, as first thought in childhood, through large, dark wardrobes, C.S. Lewis got that wrong, they are found in the surprise magic of a hoar frosted garden.

Ghosts of breath, fleetingly seen and the feeling of relief a cold nose has when entering warm houses.

Doesn't all this make you feel so much more alive?

So this year ... don't hide those skeletons in the compost heap, put them in full view and discover a whole new joy to Winter!

I couldn't have said it better. I have always liked the cozy look of a yard cluttered with fallen leaves. And they will break down over winter, so you have something to work into the soil in the spring, without a single turn of a compost pile. Spring is the time to tidy up, not fall. Those new grasses and other unwanted plants that sneak in overnight after a bit of warming and moisture will be fewer if the leaves remain in place. I wouldn't get a baby all ready for bed and strip her of her coverings at the last minute, and I don't like to do it with my plant babies. All I want to remove from the garden in fall is the junk I carried there in the first place: tools, toys, containers, etc.

All right Baa, this settles it. You really do have to come over here and stay with us for a while. Autumn is my favorite season, and I'm not talking just about the rampant wild abandond of the colored leaves. I love late fall - the pale weeds that rim the still green fields, the unmown fields with their shadings of tans and browns, the softness of a distance wood bereft of leaves. There is a shimmer in the early morning when the empty branches are gleaming with the first sunlight and the stillness of a tramp through a november wood, with only a chickadee or jay calling to let you know they have stayed on.

Love the crisp air and the sound of either leaves or frosted grass crunching underfoot. However, if it just didn't get so darn cold. Hate the constant cold, red nose.

Baa, I agree. I used to really dislike fall, but gardening has made me see the seasons through a different perspective. I don't think it will ever be my favorite time of year, but I don't dread it like I used to.

And another selling point for leaving some plants along: not only do those skeletons provide some structure to the garden during the cold months, they also provide a habitat for birds and wildlife seeking food and protection from the elements. Now I may not wish to provide a home for field mice next to my house, but I don't mind if they choose to snuggle down in a flower bed out back, so long as they stay outdoors!

LOL Kathleen I would love to come and stay. I've just applied for a really good job in the states so fingers crossed (again, I'm going to have crooked fingers soon LOL)

I'm glad I'm not the only one who likes Autumn, Zeb I forgot the wonderful crunch noises too! Everyone has said something really poignant too!

I'm sure I've written this before but I loved the October morning mists on the fields, its one of the few times I really feel free.

Baa, Yes! I love the fall too! The falling leaves, The trees with their stark branches outlined against a grey shrouded sky. Too beautiful for words! Wind and being inside in a cozy warm house with cold rain lashing against the window panes, threatening to turn into sleet! That's living! A light frost touching everthing in the garden in early morning, pure magic!

Fall is one of my favorite times too. I love the gorgous harvest moons, the brilliant sunsets, the steam rising off my pond, the waterfowl flying south and honking or quacking their arrival this far. The house is cozy from the pellet stove so I can always come in and warm up but summer I can't take enough off to cool down. The fresh smell of the fall rains. The hore frost in the mornings. The lambs playing in the evening cool and the morning mist. Ah fall is a lovely time of the year. Early color, mid colors, late skeletons for winter protection from the harsh weather. Lani

Ahh yes a cozy house. I might have one ... one day LOL my heating is sparse to say the least :) Still a nice cup of tea and sitting in front of the fire on a frosty morn is most welcome and very enjoyable, especially with a seed catalogue or 5 to read!

Baa, I wish you the best of luck in your job quest. You sound like someone we need to have more of.

Thanks Aimee on both counts LOL I keep trying, I'm very trying.

you all make it sound beautiful, but unfortunately all we seem to get is damp, we don,t get much in the way of frosts here as I live near the sea.We seem to go from summer to slush to winter. I remember cold crisp mornings when I was younger,but not, it seems any more! Still there are advantages to that , I,m growing more tender things now,(it,ll be sods law that we get a cold winter this year, and I,ll loose all those plants :-})
I loveeeeeee snow, in the winter I watch the forecast to see if we,re due any, we bought a sledge about 12 years ago for when the others were little, and we,ve never had enough snow to use it since,I,ve made hubby drive me to find some before now ! There is a ridge of hills behind us which divides the weather, they get snow, we get rain, they have rain, we have bright sunny skies,you can often see storm clouds gathering over the hills,

Sue

You probably live closer to the south coast than I do. The last few years have been less of a winter and the rain last year was horrendous.

Driving over the hills just beyond Winchester brings a dramatic change int he weather, almost like a different country :) I like to vist but prefer to live in the warmer part.

In 1980-1 Winter we had dreadful blizzards in Staffordshire, completely put me off snow.

Hi Baa, yes I,m within walking distance of the beach,if you were to stand on my roof (!) you could see chesil beach one side and weymouth bay the other, in fact if I stand on tippee toe in my bedroom i can see the sea.I built a raised deck in my garden so I could sit and see the cliffs and sea,then a guy next door planted some trees !!!!!!so now I can,t.My Dad used to live just up the road ,about 1/2 mile, and in cold weather we,d drive up, it,d be damp here and frost there ,

My problem with fall is - LAKE EFFECT is not far behind!!!

CC,know what ya mean,brutal weather' Getting close'