Well  after 3 frosts, all light,( even though the temps have been in the 20’s a few nights), I guess I can call it a day (or a season anyway) in the garden. Even thought there is still so much to look at out there, my chore list consists of waiting for a hard frost to take everything down so I can do a fall clean-up. I had planned one more big day of planting after I visited a friend who is kindly giving me some great plants, but on the morning I was set to head over to her house Tigger took it upon himself to attack the puppy. He gave her a good gash on her ear and punctured her nose, so instead of gardening fun, I spent the morning at an emergency vet visit, and the afternoon finding a vet-behavior therapist for Tigger. He sadly has gotten so fearful it is time for doggie drugs as a last ditch effort to keep him here.  Ahhh,on to happier topics………

Outside the leaves are turning. a few trees have prematurely dropped leaves due to the drought, but most look spectacular. Here, because our neighborhood is young , borrowed scenery is the way to go. Around our development, which looks like a UFO landing carved out of the forest ,we are surrounded by lovely trees in the distance circling the acreage where the houses are sited. Translate: lovely view, no raking. But my favorite bit of borrowed scenery is the line of eunymous (burning bushes) that hedge the property line to the south of my house. For those of you who don’t know, burning bushes are outlawed here in MA because they are on the invasive plant list. Hurumph! I have a great many thoughts on the “native plant” movement and the invasive plant list , but it would take pages and pages to rant about it, and it makes me angry so I shall save it for a yucky day in the winter when I am bored and in a bad mood. Back to the burning bushes…..they get their nickname from the fact that they are so vibrantly red in the fall, they look aflame and they frame out my yard beautifully , AND they are not mine, so I don’t have to listen to anyone reprimanding me to take them out. (if you think that would never happen ,you are wrong…it does…and it has…..some people love to get on any high horse they can rein in and shout  their opinions from the tree-tops). I  never discourage them, as it amuses me, and increases that smug little feeling inside I so enjoy.

The weather here has also been pretty darn nice the last few days, gorgeous autumn sunshine, moderate temps, and rain last week make it a joy to be out in the garden. Add in the fact that the weeds have slowed down (or died) and it is garden nirvana. Hope it is just as nice in your neck of the woods, and that you can fit in some time to be a leaf-peeper or get to a few fall festivals. Pretty soon I will be blogging snow fall amounts!

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