For most of us, gardening is an endeavor pursued in the warmer months of the year. Traditional sowing and growing seasons in many parts of the country usually run from early March to late September, and during this time gardens flourish with fruits, vegetables and blossoms many times over until temperatures begin to drop.
Although there is nowhere else I'd rather be on a warm afternoon than working in my garden, as seasons go, I've always been partial to winter. Consequently, as summer comes to an end each year and autumn fades the leaves on the trees to a rusty hue, my spirit loosens up a bit as I fill my flower pots and my flower beds with variegated petunias and hearty chrysanthemums to reflect the change in seasons. By the time the first snow flakes drift and icicles erupt from the eaves of the house, I'm ready for winter.
Wintertime is a dark season; cold, callous, expressionless, and oftentimes shrewd in its attempt to exert total control over every single thing it comes in contact with. Even so, to skip winter is to omit an essential part of the growing process. For as temperatures drop and the ground freezes over, significant changes begin to take place. Weeds die back, certain bugs are vanquished, and decomposed leaves rest in piles, waiting to be utilized as mulch. For a short period of time, the promise of renewal and new growth are suspended in the air. Thus, changes that occur during the winter are as essential to a garden as those which take place in the warmer months. We can't skip winter. However, as planters and cultivators, we can grow to appreciate its contributions to our gardens.
No comments:
Post a Comment