We have a ten gallon bucket we put in the ground, filled with water and rocks, and added a fountain to provide a small water feature near our backyard patio. Four frogs have moved in. In the middle of the forest?! We have toads throughout the gardens and the hummingbirds are starting the head south. We are keeping the hummingbirds feeders full for our local residents and for the birds that are passing through.
I don’t do a fall garden cleanup. I leave the flowers up to provide seeds for birds that overwinter and they offer architectural interest in the winter when they don’t get covered in snow. By leaving the garden beds be, I provide a safe place for the bumblebees and toads and frogs to hibernate through the winter. I will empty the pots I planted and bring in herbs to try and keep through the fall. I freeze the rosemary stalks. I have enough basil frozen (shredded with olive oil) to last the winter.
I thought it would be a good idea to put birdseed out for the migratory birds passing through. That lasted two days. On the third morning. we looked outside and a bear had taken down the feeders and emptied them. The bear was very considerate in that it did not destroy the feeders. We will wait until this winter to put the feeders our again.
Deer and turkey have been passing through, looking for food to help them bulk up for the winter. A six-point is in the area and a spike. I like the idea of deer. I like seeing fawns. I don’t like them in my garden. I’ve been consistently putting down deer repellent on the gardens and so far so good. Need to keep on top of that task, especially after it rains.
A porcupine is eating a wood plant table I have next to the back door. It is also sharpening its teeth on a metal cafe table. A local trapper set traps for relocation. I hope they work soon. He may have to add more enticing bait.
The other night I was awoken by a barred owl outside our bedroom window. A visit by an owl brings wisdom, heightened intuition, and/or a major life transition. On the other hand, we have a lot of chipmunks, mice, frogs, and toads in the garden that would make a good meal.
We accidently left the front door opened the other night and a bat got in the house. We (my husband) were able to lead it to an open door to the outside. I was encouraged that we have at least one bat in the neighborhood. There is an abandoned barn not far away. Maybe they live there. We don’t see as many bats as we used to.
Autumn starts in a week. The air is chillier. We are getting more rain. The leaves on the trees are starting to fade. Autumn is beautiful here. Warm temperatures and sunny skies. Lake Michigan is still warm. The nice weather usually lasts through the end of October to the middle of November. Then we get the gales of November. Windy, rainy, and cold.
I will be pulling weeds in the gardens, putting down compost, planting bulbs, and spreading deer repellent. Not the most exciting part of the gardening year but work done now provides beautiful benefits in the seasons ahead.
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