Category: Garden

While the bright radiant Sun in center glows,

The Earth in annual motion ’round it goes;

At the same time on its own axis reels,

And gives us change of seasons as it wheels.

The (Old ) Farmer’s Almanac, 1793

As we embark on another seasonal change, I am reminded about the natural rhythm of things.  The rhythms I sometimes take for granted as day turns to night, birds migrate North in spring and leaves color and fall from the trees.  And while I sometimes miss these rhythms because I allow life to get too busy, internally I am tuned to the nature of things.  Perhaps it is the sun rising and setting that I am attuned to most, and those subtle changes of the sun and its cycles are what I react to and know as seasons.

But as the seasons change my emotions change with them, and while I may not always notice my body falling into rhythm, I am tied emotionally to the seasonal changes mostly because of my garden.  In spring I am jumping for joy to see blooms and green rise from the brown earth.  As summer comes, I welcome the heat and the veggies that I anticipate will be growing in the garden.  Winter of course I turn inward and hibernate to energize for the next season.  Now as fall approaches I usually become a bit contemplative watching the garden enter into one of its most beautiful times.  As it ages and fades, it leaves behind so much for the next generation of plants and critters.

This past May as I turned 55 and made the decision to retire (hopefully) this coming August 2013, I have had a hard time coming to grips with this life changing event.  It is the right time and the right thing for me, but the change is big.  My career in education has consumed me for the last 30 years.  From teacher to administrator I have worked 10-12 hour days for the majority of my career as this commitment to kids and teachers is a strong vocation.  My internal rhythm has been tied to this schedule and I am ready to make the change; it is time to renew.  So perhaps I should follow nature and its cues.

I have been thinking maybe I am resisting this change a bit because I am entering the autumn of my life.  A time to go slower, relax more, reap the benefits of the harvest of the past 55 years.  It is not a bad thing, but an exciting colorful time for me to explore, learn new things and enjoy.

For me this change of seasons not only evokes strong emotions, but brings on heightened senses.  Senses that are tied to wonderful memories that give our gardens a grand send off.  So what will be enticing my senses during this Seasonal Celebration?

sight

 

The angle of the sun is changing as the sunrises later each day in fall.  Morning dew clings to everything showing colors and the almost invisible in a diffused light.  Visual splendor and surprises abound in the fall.

 

 

sound

 

As many birds have left for a warmer climate South, our resident birds are feasting on the benefits of the spent summer blooms.  The fall garden is quieter and the visiting birds and bees certainly make a lovely sound.

 

 

smell

 

While the smell of  dying leaves permeates the garden, there are a few flowers that send out a wonderful perfume.  Roses in the fall garden are such a pleasure to many senses but especially my sense of smell.

 

taste

 

My favorite part of fall is the harvest.  This is one of my first pumpkins we hope to use for pies….mmmm!  The luscious taste of late season lettuces, radishes, carrots, herbs, garlic….well you get the picture…it is simply divine!

 

 

touch

 I love the look of the ornamental grasses as they flower and change color in fall.  The textures are fabulous in the garden and watching the grasses sway in the breeze is a bonus.  I also love to touch the grasses as those textures are too enticing to resist.

 

Sometimes I am sad to see the coming of autumn as my garden prepares to sleep, but I know, like me, it is  gaining strength to put on another stellar show again in spring.  And for you folks in the Southern Hemisphere, I hope you will join me as you celebrate spring in your gardens.  Read below to see how you can join in Seasonal Celebrations.