Death in My Front Yard

Mother Nature has committed a cruel act, right in my front yard. With one move of her icy hand, she has caused my beautiful plants to wither, shrinking away, along with the warmth of the summer sun. While at my writer's group this past Friday, several people mentioned how they loved the fall and all it's colors. I responded, "Well, all I see are my beautiful plants dying! Who could find beauty in that?" I tend them, giving water, fertilizer, lots of sun and TLC, and then, inevitably, they are given a death sentence. When I finally realized my connection to the loss of my flowers to the dislike of the onset of fall, it was a major realization for me. I bring in as many as I can, trying to prolong their demise. Last fall I saved a pepper plant, keeping it on my counter the entire winter, watching as it began to bloom and sprout peppers in late February. What a great thing to have happen during the dreary days filled with snow, knowing spring was still months away! This year, it's the cosmos that Erica grew from seeds in her pre-k class this spring. I just can't stand to see them die - it's not their fault! They have just started to really bloom, just like the moss rose. But, sadly, I cannot bring them all in, nor can I stop Mother Nature from causing their death. All I can do is accept the inevitable, put on my sweater, and start planning for next year!

Avoiding the Fall

Every year,just about this time, when the flowers are doing their best show and thriving, it starts to sink in. Soon, the cold nights will creep into the daytime hours, and gradually - or as quick as a blink - it will send the plants into their final days. Fall has never been my favorite season, although the colors are a treat for the eyes, long bored with the steady green of trees and grass. And I do enjoy the cooler breezes, and my coffee is better when the air is chilly. It's just the feeling of impending death - of all that I have worked hard for. So far, I have harvested zucchini (about 9 so far) cucumbers, crookneck squash, tomatoes (oh, just heaven in a red globe!) and even one beautiful yellow pepper, which made its way into our "conglomarkation" (potatoes, onion, pepper, egg and cheese) for breakfast on Sunday. Erica's seeds from pre-k, cosmos and lettuce, have both done great, and we have two, TWO! watermelons on the vine - both are about 8" across, and I'll bet they will taste just great! Beyond that, the flowers are blooming so great, and my Sedum, which I learned from cousin Edna in Iowa will turn pink, are turning pink! Nothing is more depressing than watching beautiful things die. I wish I could bring them all inside and keep them safe from the sad fate of winter. I did that last year with a pepper plant, which has produced peppers since February (while still indoors - talk about cool!) and in years past I've held on to geraniums that also were blooming in the window while the snow fell outside. That sure does help me get through the dreariness of winter. But for now, I'm spending every minute outside, tending the veggies, coaxing a few more blooms from the star flowers and daisies. And waiting for just one more tomato to turn red.