September Reflection and Thanksgiving

But now in September the garden has cooled, and with it my possessiveness. The sun warms my back instead of beating on my head … The harvest has dwindled, and I have grown apart from the intense midsummer relationship that brought it on.

- Robert Finch

September has always been a favorite month of mine. The prelude to fall, my favorite garden season, I relish in the transition from searing summer to cool crisp days. The slower the better. My visual side obsesses with the hues of autumn. Cooking, in particular roasting, begins to peak my interest again, and the rush to get last minute perennials, trees, and shrubs into the ground before September’s end revives my gardener spirit no matter how long and hot the summer was.

I stayed home from work today with a nasty head cold. Being sick is no fun, but I am happy for a bit of time to sit and reflect as we anticipate another rainfall this afternoon. I miss the garden center when I’m not there. It’s an exciting time as we are receiving shipments almost as frequently as in spring. Though this time, it’s mums, corn shocks, bails of straw including bittie bails (so cute), asters, pumpkins, gourds, plus all sorts trees and shrubs. Yes, fall is just around the corner.

It seems like only yesterday the sun would beat me to chase as I would begin the 6AM ritual of endless watering in the muggy morning air. The changes of the season are certainly in the air, and the sight of my breath in the cool morning air does not bother me as much as the prospect of waking to a dark sky. Fall provides an opportunity to exhale and time to reflect on what was accomplished during the summer months. Many things were planted despite a scorching summer sans rain. I made a pact with the garden to remain focused and steadfast on plant material that I refused to lose. Today, I can look out among the lawns and smile proudly, not only at the fact that we made it, but that many are thriving. Although we have not balanced the rain deficit, we have had enough for things to break dormancy and come back with a vengeance. New growth abounds. Let’s hope for a late winter.

It’s a little early for Thanksgiving, but it’s always appropriate to be thankful. Today, I am thankful for all the wonderful gardeners and growers who have taken the time to teach me a thing or two. You know who you are, and your garden wisdom is paying off.

Autumn at Sutherland

It’s been a dazzling fall at Sutherland; mornings crisp and clear, the daylight golden and foliage brilliant. Autumn is by far the most interesting time of year around this place with so many things in various states of decay, others hanging on for a final encore. Shadows are long and low, silhouettes revealed and trees sing out with the familiar rustle of parched leaves as they give way to the earth. It’s the sound of summer saying goodbye. Or is it winter saying hello?

As customary with a blogging gardener, I present you my fall as captured between chores and strolls at Sutherland. 

Fall Color Report

Beautiful colors and textures abound at Sutherland all year long, but fall is always the most spectacular season. Take a look at some of my favorite hues from around the property.

These Limelight Hydrangea blossoms transformed from light green to creamy white during summer. In their final stage, they are becoming more golden and parchment brown. Their texture is very papery.

Another view of the Hydrangeas with bright yellow Chrysanthemums in the foreground. The mums are also beginning to turn a bit brown around the edges.

Toward the creek, this lone Maple tree is slowly turning. Weather permitting, it will be fiery red before total leaf drop. It really stands out against the White Pines in the background.

These Sedum plants were collected from all over the property. They were moved near the creek bank a couple of years ago and are much more impressive as a single mass.

A fading Hosta with brilliant yellow and chartreuse hues. This is Hosta ‘Liberty’.

Oak Leaf Hydrangeas are a favorite around Sutherland. One of the few hydrangeas native to the United States, the leaves often turn brilliant red, orange, and burgundy in the fall. I just love the leathery texture of the leaves.

Rain has been scarce in Indianapolis so every drop is welcome. Although melancholy, the greys on this warm rainy day are soothing and serve as a reminder of what lies ahead.

End of Season Chores

Fall has arrived. Reluctantly, I begin to deconstruct all the containers which have been so prolific this year. But before I can begin planning next year’s compositions, I must property clean and store my terra cotta pots for a long winter’s nap. Here’s how I do it.

The first step is to remove all the plant material from the containers. This is always the saddest part because many of the annuals are in such good condition still.

I’m transferring all the soil to the garden cart so it can be hauled away in bulk. Notice the shard that was in the bottom of the pot for drainage. I’m going to save any good shards and use them again next year.

Extra large containers are too heavy for one person to be moving around. For these, I use a shovel to transfer the soil into a bucket. The bucket is much more manageable as there are several stairs down to the garden cart.

Above: My trusty pot brush. I love all the beautiful foliage in the back yard.

Now for the not-so-fun part… washing the pots. This task always leaves me with wet sleeves and pants. Not fun on a cold day! My tips for cleaning are:

  • Watch your weather forecast and plan this activity on a warm sunny day.
  • Prepare a mild water/bleach bath for dipping the washed pots. I use a 1:10 ratio of bleach to water in a galvanized tub.
  • Have your garden hose with sprayer nozzle at hand.
  • Use a sturdy brush to scrub the pots inside and out. Any stiff brush will do. You could even used a dish scrubber or fine steel wool.
  • Locate an area for the pots to dry before moving to dry storage.

After a good scrubbing and rinse, I dip in a mild bleach and water solution. This kills off any bacteria, viruses and fungi. They should soak in the solution for about 30 minutes. Bleach can weaken materials over time, so make sure you are working with a very dilute solution.

Some of the pots have developed a white crust on the outside. This can be caused by salts in fertilizers passing through the porous pot’s walls. To clean off, try a baking soda paste. Personally, I love the crusty character and aged look.

Almost done. After the pots are completely dry, I place everything on shelves in the garage over winter. I store the pots upside down and out of the way of heavy traffic to avoid any breakage. It’s best to avoid stacking because the pots can get stuck and break when you try to separate them. However, if you must stack, make sure they are loose. You might even wrap them with bubble wrap or unprinted newsprint to avoid breaking and sticking. Because of the unpredictable winters in Zone 5, I never store outside. If you can’t winterize indoors, I suppose it would be best to keep them massed together, upside down (so they can’t hold water), off the ground, and insulated. Southern exposure would be ideal.

Well, back to work! There’s more clean up to do before I can begin dreaming up container recipes for next year.

What do your end of season chores consist of?