“…the whole ‘know thyself’ thing isn’t a journey to a fixed destination. Learning about myself changes me, forcing me to learn more. ‘Know thyself’ isn’t a goal; it’s a road.”
~ Garon Whited
As November begins, the sky darkens early. It is a time for going inward to our warm hearths, our centers, our souls. I seem to reconnect with that heart center in November. A month of barren landscapes, of giving thanks. For working with, and in the shadows.
Do you feel that pull inward as the daylight hours wane? A time for getting cozy, eating warm soups and comfort foods….cocooning ourselves like a hibernating bear in his den. As this year’s season of autumn progresses, I feel an even stronger pull to go within.
With my inner work, I set the stage for the year ahead with little expectation, but to go with the flow with what the Universe has in store for me. Reconnecting is important work, and I find that at this time of year, as I am cleaning and clearing some of my garden, I am reconnecting to its heart center too.
Knowing my garden more intimately, helps me set up the garden work and plans for the year ahead. Not that I want to generate a long to do list, rather I am looking for an overall feel for what are the main goals for the year ahead. As this quote so aptly says….knowing myself, and knowing my garden, is more of a road, a journey not a goal.
These pictures are of my ‘wild’ back gardens on a foggy morning in fall. A great habitat for wildlife, but overgrown, weedy and in need of clearing so plants can thrive. So what are my options? Many actually. One option is to work methodically through the areas over a period of years to clear the overgrowth and weeds. But for me that option may be too late. With injuries and aging, there is just too much work to consider this option possible.
We are looking at probably selling our house, in 5-7 years to downsize and simplify. And we know reducing the gardens would make the house more salable, so this may be a better option. Trends are such today that people want less maintenance with yard work. I know I do. I have some ideas of where to start and what gardens to take out or reduce.
For now though, our main emphasis will be on cleaning up and reducing the front and side gardens, as well as keeping the back corner garden from encroaching on the veg beds in the back. This will be a multi-year project, but one that is more doable. With the changeable November weather, we are slowly working through cleaning up some areas that I do not leave up all winter. Too much cover for voles, and not easily accessible in spring.
Do you feel the pull of going inward during fall? Have you made any plans for your garden for next year?
A Perfect Fall Vase
In fall, I love to cut hydrangeas and let them dry inside. I placed these in a small jar with some water, and let it evaporate over time. This allows the hydrangea flowers to dry slowly looking preserved in shades of red, pink and green.
I love drying hydrangeas because I can move the dried hydrangeas to any container or basket, all winter long, for some summer garden memories. Here they are in a pumpkin tin for Halloween. I’ll move them for Thanksgiving into a basket, and show you what they look like in a couple of weeks.
I am joining Cathy@Rambling in the Garden for her wonderful In A Vase on Monday meme. The pictures shared here were created with my iPod Touch camera and two free apps, Pixlr and Prisma.
I am posting poetry, almost weekly on Sundays, on my other blog, Living From Happiness. You can read my latest poem here.
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