Re: [gardeners] The End Is Near
Margaret Lauterbach (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Mon, 13 Oct 1997 18:26:39 -0700
At 06:27 PM 10/13/97 -0400, you wrote:
>The intro from the New York George reminded me of a discussion we had on
>Gardens some time ago. There are those, like NY George, who wish it was
>spring already and who would probably be happy in Louisiana with our other
>George who can garden most of the year. Then there are those, like myself,
>who would probably have to pack in gardening altogether if I didn't get
>some time to rest, and think, and once in a great while read something
>other than gardening books and magazines. I'm not on Gardens because there
>is no time whatsoever in the growing season for me to deal with the volume.
>No, I'm not sorry to see another season come to an end. I really enjoy the
>changes, the reevaluation I do in the Fall, the thinking over of plans for
>next year during the winter, the catalogs I can read by the wood burning
>stove, the renewing of ties to friends and family I badly neglect from
>April through November. No, I'm pooped and glad it's time to put everything
>to bed. The garden is too big by far already and I know it is just going to
>get bigger, so rest we must for yet another growing season; that is, after
>we plant the garlic, the dozen trees I grew from cuttings and seed, and all
>the bulbs, then weed the beds, add compost, sawdust, and mulch and mulch
>and mulch.
>
> It will be Thanksgiving before it's done, before we are done in. and ready
>to use the dried materials for wreaths and arrangements for gifts for
>Christmas. Before you know it the catalogs have piled up and you're
>gardening again in your head. I need winter by then so I can really vej.
>Erich thinks I should deal with the snow so he can rest, but I'm the big
>planner, he the big mover. Not all in life is fair. Didn't mean to go on
>like this, but there you have it, my unsolicited views on not gardening all
>year. Can't wait to hear your responses...Cheryl
>
>Cheryl Schaefer, Schaefer Yarns
>Beautiful hand painted fibers
>schaefer@epix.net
>Zone 5 in the fabulous Finger Lakes of NY
>
I'm with you, Cheryl. I have a greenhouse, and love that, but as for the
outdoor garden, I'm focused now on soil improvement. That's true of every
fall, and I can't wait for the leaves to fall. Free nutrients. I used to
drive around neighborhoods looking for people bagging leaves so I could ask
if I could have their leaves for my garden. Very few were already promised
to other gardeners, so rakers and baggers were delighted I wanted their
leaves. Most even helped me load them into the pickup. I have a camper
top, so can hold about 25 bags (if I slam the tailgate and/or the back
window fast enough). Margaret