It’s very difficult, once I’m back to homeschooling, to get outside and do the important autumn work that must be done. I’ll go out and do what I have to, of course, like cut down the peonies, winterize the pond, and clean up the gardens, but it will take will-power. That’s why I never manage to have a late veggie garden. Planting in August and September, when my mind is back in school mode, is really tough, and harvesting and preserving during the school year is just too daunting a task. But hope springs eternal! I still have autumn plans. This fall I plan a complete over-haul of the front of our house, which really looks awful. Since we never go out front, I mostly forget about it, focusing instead on the area around the back entrance. But it looks so blah from the road that it’s time to do something. Additionally, I continue to research for plants with at least three seasons of beauty, and evaluating my gardens monthly will help me fine-tune them over the next few years.
I also have great plans for autumn and winter blogging, even though I will not be out in the gardens much for the next six months. Over the cold months I plan to give everyone REAL reviews of plants, not the kinds you read in the catalogs. Isn’t it great when the catalog tells you all sorts of glowing things about a plant, then you buy it and find it only blooms two weeks then dies off, or it needs constant dead-heading not to look ragged, or it is prone to mildew? Well, I’ll give you the real scoop on the best (and a few not-so-best) perennials, annuals, and shrubs that I have experience with. I have been taking pictures of the plants in various seasons and keeping track of the work that goes into them, if any, so you will know which plants have the longest seasons of attractiveness for the least amount of work. I also intend to continue researching healthy food alternatives, and will share with you what I am studying in the areas of health and wellness! I hope to still blog at least three times a week, so stay tuned for more ways to make your gardens more beautiful, your family healthier, and your children more enamored with nature!