Fall is in the air. There is no question about it. It is just all of a sudden present. There is unpredictable and constantly changing weather with as hallmarks, rain, cold air and wind...welcome to Holland. Having said that, there are those wonderful days when the wind dies down a tad and the smell of fall fills one's nostrils. I can fill the bird feeders in the arches and plop myself down on the wooden bench in front of the garden house with a cuppa tea and the pile of bee and gardening magazines that I have dug out and dusted-off. I can feel the diminishing strength of the autumn's sun warm on my face as I squint and feel sort of dozy...I sort of scoot down to the slouch mode and let my head fall back against the window, as the sun does it's magical bathing work...lulling me into an all too fleeting spell of calm and copasetic feeling of pure pleasure and relaxation. Yawnnnnnn..... Should my eyes open, then I survey the sights of the flower garden in its display of the fading glory of the passing summer. I might look through an arch, which gives a framed view of the world from inside the inner sanctum. The Black-eyed Susans are a mainstay of the "fall feeling" in my garden. I yawn again, as I look out at that new grass plant, standing there by the end of the serpentine path...backlit by the low sun. ] I got this plant from a gardening neighbour, Hetty. She presented me with this plant which I promptly divided into four clumps and then planted them along one side of the entrance path. I liked the way it looked--it inspired me to get a bit of fire under my bum and get to work! As I took the last sip of my already luke-warm tea. I stood up as if I were a man of 90, emitting a groan of reluctant responsibility. There was work to be done and I could tell that the weather would be turning soon. We have already begun with the winterizing process, but the plants and weather conditions are still calling the shots. There are always little cleaning jobs that need to be done, but so long as the flowers are in bloom and the bees and butterflies are flying; I cannot in good conscience, begin chopping down the plants of the flower garden or the green manure over in the veggie plots. I have the best of intentions, but the plants know that there is never a one hundred percent guarantee with me...their future is never certain. Case in point: The garlic's need to go into the ground within the coming two weeks. Before this can happen, a plot for them must be prepared. A strip of the lovely Phacelia had to be sacrificed. I placed it on the plot adjacent to the bed of generously sowed green manure. See the strip of ground here where the Phacelia has been removed? This bed was then schoffel-ed and the severed weeds raked up. After that, I had to sprinkle some seaweed chalk on the bed, as I have a problem with a white fungus in the soil. This will destroy my garlic's if no steps are taken. The small amount of kalk makes the milieu where the cloves will develop roots a bit more alkaline. It then gets min-tilled in. Next, the bride scuffs her shoe soles over the soil to make the tilth a somewhat finer. It is once again min-tilled to loosen it, then Bob's yer uncle. I will let it sit, "relax", and get rained-in. I have been following the weather forecasts and it is due to rain. I shall assume that it will. Recall that I said that I pulled up the Phacelia green manure and laid it out on an adjacent empty plot? Well, notice here that the honey bees still come to the severed plant's flowers. This is a point that I have to remind the people who spray chemicals in order to kill weeds of-- That they ought to first wait until any blooming flowers have gone brown before spraying, as pollinators will continue to visit the flowers of dead plants as long as they are blooming and can be inadvertently poisoned. Well then, the task finished, I can return to appreciating the insects that are still about in the garden. Here, one of the last butterflies. Its wing is beginning to break apart. Here, a bee on a Fall Aster. It is november and the mice have found their way into the greenhouse. They have been nibbling on the lower toms and then I looked under my pepper bush--They've discovered the Cayenne peppers! What kind of mouse would knowingly eat half a raw pepper!? Speedy Gonzalez 'er somethin' ?....arriba, arriba, andale!
I always find this time of year so sad ... all the plants that we take care of all season suddenly die back and leave the garden so empty. But it leaves me with lots of fresh ideas for next year. I had mice in my peppers this year too!
Thanks DONNA--What a nice thing to say. Yes NETTY--There is a sad element to fall. I think that the switch-over is actually sadder than the winter. Like you my head is already making plans for the coming season, and in that respect I find it exciting. The excitement of something new, and what will be coming.
I love your flower garden. I can't seem to see all of the flowers without coming back many times. They look so good growing all together though. I only have zinnias now. The hot summer did most of my garden in before it got started so I'm always happy to see the posts on here. dooley
Sometimes I wonder whether it is a blessing for me to be able to plant year round and miss the wonderful 4 seasons!
Thanks so much DOOLEY--I know what you mean about having to look back a few times...I have that with the foto's from others as well sometimes. What a shame that your plants suffered so from the heat. I hope that you can plant some fall/winter bloomers. KK--I know what you mean, mate. That was something that I had when I travelled in your part of the world---two seasons, basically. I missed having four. The rest was sort of Paradise-like.
You definitely work hard in your veggie and flower gardens... and the benefits are remarkable. Even the mice can't help but come for a treat.
I appreciate your very nice words, Cheryl. Yes, those lil mousies do indeed come by. When it is the end of the day, I can actually hear them creeping in some places where there are crispy dead leaves. They are interesting to watch...they can be so nimble with their movements.
Autumn or not, your garden's delightful. I almost felt I was sitting on that bench with you, sipping tea, watching the birds, blooms and butterflies and enjoying the sun.
Beautiful! I love walking around your garden, and the Black-eyed Susans are spectacular. Glad you take time to admire and reflect in the garden. The adaptations for the garlic and your green manures show off your wonderful gardening skills. :-D
Such wonderful comments by everyone. Sjoerd, your gardens and all are very pleasant. Autumn is very bittersweet for me. I have to say I am enjoying my Autumn more this year than the past 7 years.
Thanks so much rot your nice words, DROOPY--Ah, the bench...would that it were so. Thanks so much, JEWELL--meaningful words coming from such a pro as yourself. I sure do appreciate your comments, WARE--Bitter-sweet...yes, that's a good word for the fall. It is good to hear that your autumn is the best one this year than in the past seven. Why is that, miss?
In these, Closing days of summer, I nearly despair of harvesting brussel sprouts and cauliflower. From 7 or 8 plants, I see two tiny heads of cauliflower, and only two plants have tiny brussel sprouts. Is there still hope? And what have I done wrong to be so late to the harvest? I grew most of the plants from seed. The plants are beautiful, but just not producing. Sjoerd, your pictures are awesome. A walk through your garden would be such a pleasure. Thank you for sharing.
Hiya GP--Good to hear from you. If your weather and season is at the same stage as ours, the cauli's will be at the end...the sprouts could still develop a little bit more. What an odd season it has been this year in some ways.'BTW, did you feed those brassica's at all during the season.
