Another Summer Past

Oh Well....

Frost happens. I thought, hoped, that maybe we could get through this week without a big frost, but it was not to be. I suppose that an average date of October 15th requires that some years it is earlier, some later.

And even if the frost didn't come, the growing season would certainly end some time around now, as the hours of daylight dwindle. But it is hard.

On the other hand, it is good to begin the cleanup that is inevitable. We cut down the Viburnum bush at the corner of the deck that was imposing itself upon the Forsythia. They have both been hearty, but the viburnum has really been going overtime, and it is time to rejuvenate it.

And then cut down the cannas and the cleomes and the elephant ears in the deck planters. I dug up the geraniums that might be able to survive through to the spring in paper bags in the basement.

The basil, coleus, four o'clocks, zinnias, and other tender annuals became compost fodder. We had two frosts, one Thursday night, one Friday. The Mandeville survived Thursday, and I foolishly hoped it would make it through Friday as well. But it didn't. My decision about whether to bring it in for the winter has been pre-empted. It is now a stump, and maybe I'll bring in the stump to see if it sprouts. My money is on "no".

There is much more space now on the deck. The grill can be lighted without fear of singeing a leaf of some nearby plant. We carted off many of the clay pots to the garage for storage. Put away the spray bottles of insecticide and fertilizer. The final hauling of chairs, table, planters, etc. may be a few weeks away, but winter is at hand.

We also spent a few hours cutting back overgrown and unwelcome woody inhabitants of the creekside and yard. Willows that were dead, Dogwoods overgrown, Buckthorn and Box Elder. A limb here and there from other trees and shrubs. We have plenty for the Town to pick up this week the last time they will do it this year.

But some things are at their most beautiful. The "tricorn" garden really doesn't come into its own until fall. The Duarf Euonymous 'Burning Bush' shrub begins to develop its flaming presentation, the grasses are fully grown, and in a good year they are in bloom. (I'm still hoping they will bloom this year. The tips of the stalks are swelling, indicating flowers inside.) The sedum is blooming and fully structured. This is the picture I see in my mind all year, even if it doesn't really exist for more than a month or two at the end of the season.