november reflection

gulf fritillary feeding from a zinnia

this month, the theme is rest. as the last monarchs leave the garden to continue their journey further south and the first frost arrives, there is a notable shift away from the frantic pace of the summer toward stillness and calm. though the changing climate means the timing of this shift happens later each year, it still inevitably arrives -- and with it, a strong desire to turn inward, to restore energy lost over the past months of planting, harvesting, preserving, trying to keep up with the seemingly endless energy of the main season.

these days, every time i see a bumblebee gathering pollen on a cosmos or zinnia, it may be the last. many insects are hurrying around the garden in a last gasp of activity to find the place they will spend the cold winter months. and similarly, i have been hurrying to prepare the garden for the colder months as well -- transplanting onions, planting garlic bulbs, last weeding, and protecting plants.

after a long, cool spring and an even longer and hotter summer, the autumn has been reluctant to truly arrive. weather has remained warm, still often reaching mid 70s, with the rare dip into low 40s overnight. the lowering, glowing sunlight of these days late in the year is the only real indicator of the changing season.

12 apple trees ready to be planted as stepovers: two each of cox orange pippin, jonagold, old fashioned winesap, grimes golden, stayman winesap, and arkansas black

with our short winter, preparations for next year begin almost as soon as this year's season ends. though the work continues without much of a break, its form changes dramatically. summer weeding, harvesting, and pruning and just trying to keep up is replaced by the thoughtful and deliberate process of building -- building habitat, building structure, building on what exists in a continuing exploration into what is possible.

scott working hard at digging a hole. soon this will look more like a pond.

working toward this end, progress continues on the wildlife pond and a new stand of twelve stepover apple trees has been installed in the front garden. the list of to dos is thankfully shrinking in time with the sun's position in the sky. and that leaves plenty of time for rest.