One of the greatest gifts the garden has to offer is a reminder to accept change as part of nature and of life itself. The transition from autumn to winter began with falling temperatures and shifting weather patterns. The consequences of wind, rain, sleet and snow have an obvious effect on the environment in which we live. Recognizing the effect these changes have on us can be an eye-opening experience.
With a change in external temperature, the plants in our gardens transform themselves to better survive the elements. The leaves of deciduous trees and shrubs react by ceasing to produce chlorophyll. As a result, the color green declines and the inherent reds, oranges and yellows emerge in autumn. The next leaf stage is to wither and fall to the ground, leaving bare winter branches.
As a gardener, I try my best to follow nature’s cue and get in step with each new season. The fallen leaves are a tangible signal to begin laying mulch around the garden, protecting tender plants as well as enriching the soil. I’m not saying that I don’t have days when I’d rather climb back into bed and pull a goose down comforter up and over my head instead of work outside in the cold. Some days, that is exactly how I feel and that’s exactly what I do. But soon, the garden call draws me back outside.
Life under the soil
While it appears as if all activity in the garden has stopped, there’s actually a lot going on, especially under the soil. Newly transplanted trees and shrubs, divisions of perennials, and hardy bulbs are all growing roots, drawing on soil nutrients and moisture around them. Earthworms and various microbes in the soil are still processing the organic material they are finding. There are times in the garden and in our lives when the best we can do is to let nature take its course.