Fall Delights

Beloved:
       I put up another twelve pounds of tomatoes yesterday.  I gave away a bagful, made a pot of chili and threw the worst ones to the chickens.  I am still picking them every couple of days, and I only have 8 plants!  They are taller than me and look terrible now, but the fruit is still ripening beautifully.  The deer have had their fill, and only rarely do I find one with raccoon teeth marks.  It’s as if the whole forest has pushed back from the table and said, “I’m done.”
       My red sedum and lavender are full on.  Japanese anemones are beginning to fade, but some things revive a bit in this cooler weather.  A tiny wisteria flower will open here and there.  And a clematis.  The hosta is burned up.  The hydrangeas are brittle, but pretty in a different way.  Solomon’s Seal looks like it was never anything at all, but will cover twice as much ground next spring as now.  I’ve a box of bulbs to plant, but when depends on how my yard man’s soccer team does in Sectionals.  He’s dressing for varsity this year, so my bulbs can wait.
       Though lighter than three weeks ago, I still have morning traffic at the hummingbird feeders every day.  The seed feeders are always busy.  The chipmunks have proved my need of another cat before next summer, and I’ve heard there’s a kind of backdoor trade for outdoor cats.  Sort of a black market for cats too wild to be adopted from the shelter.  I like the idea of bringing one of those boys home -- and Simba would approve, I think.  I’ve thanked him twice a week all summer for work I never knew he did.
       All of which is to say that fall gardening has its own delights.  I am thankful for the long and fruitful season and look forward to the rest of winter.  I’d love lots and lots of snow to freeze the bulbs and soak the ground before we start again six months from now.  

~ peace & prayers,

pastor annette

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