TUCK IN

For the winter, that is. It's that time of year again. Time to cut things back in the yard and put the tender plants in the greenhouse. We've had terrific weather to do this. Lots of sunshine and only short bursts of rain. It's cool and crisp and beautiful. The geraniums are so pretty, it's a shame to cut them back. This is the time of year that I pick geranium blooms from the greenhouse for fresh flowers in the house. The "burning bush" euonymus is a gogeous bright red and the clematis paniculata is in full, billowing, white bloom, next to it. That is our offering of fall color on our street. Quite the display, if I do say so myself!! But by next weekend, depending on the weather, we will have to finish cutting everything back and finish our yard waste pickup for the year.

Today, I finished picking and drying the basil. It's so sad that the fresh basil will be done on our deck. I know it can be purchased, but it's just not the same as picking what's needed off of my own plants. Oh well, something to look forward to next spring.

I also potted the last of the geranium cuttings that I took this fall. So fun to see new little plants!! I also was finally able to get a couple of Peegee Hydranges started. I've been trying for several years, with no success. They are such a beautiful, late summer, blooming plant. They also get more beautiful and larger blooms, as they age. At least the one in my yard has done that. Now to just keep everything alive through the winter. It would be nice if we had a mild winter.

MDH was very good about helping me this year. It has to be done and I drag my feet every year. He did the lifting and hanging of the plants that have to be hung up in the greenhouse and of course the cutting back of plants in the yard. He will cut back the clematis because it is so big and quite the job. And then I will need to find something to do inside. Maybe we will get some painting done. We'll see.

Change of seasons. Change of focus. Always something to look forward to.

Your Smiling Maven