A lot of people enjoy the autumn; look forward to it even. Not me. I don’t like it at all. Unfairly, of course. I struggle to appreciate this season for itself, in its own right. Instead I consider autumn merely a herald of the coming gloom and doom of winter. Blighted by the company it keeps, I suppose.
Today I studied a golden bee, feasting on a seed-swelling sunflower, taking advantage of the few unpollinated flowers left at its disposal. It was a moment of peace and reflection. Which was a mistake. The morning, up to that point, had been spent defending plants from the over-exuberance of the Nancy Nightingale autumn clear-out. This consisted of my shouting “NO!” as the secateurs/fork approached the innocent party, executing a right shoulder judo roll and throwing myself between NN and the victim. All done in slow-mo. I really should demand danger money. I may have scuffed my new boots. Several “still life in the old dog” cosmos and a “merely resting” pot marigold undoubtedly hit the compost heap during in my bee distraction. No matter, they are after all hers to do with what she wills. And at this time of year it is tempting to throw in the towel, get rid of the ragged and half-spent, look forward to spring perfection. But in doing so we miss out on the moment. I must try harder, after all the moment is all we can be sure of.
Am I warming to the autumn? Perhaps. But on a glorious day like today, who wouldn’t? Ask me again at the end of the week. I will keep practicing.
Off The Edge Gardening 
I like the low light of Autumn…digging things up can be viewed as allowing light and air to circulate more freely around remaining plants, keeping them healthy and robust for the following year. The seasons seem to pass faster each year…and the weather always throws surprises. My mother used to yearn for seasons, and weather…and being an English lass all her life, found the lack of variation stifling, out in Mauritius.
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Yes, it lovely light. And I do like a good tidy-up. But perhaps not quite so radical as today. Oh gosh, did you live in Mauritius too? I would love to visit.
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Wonderfully put. My beds are beds of dying and decay. Everything gets its opportunity to flower its last. Those little spots of colour remind me of summer and keep the dreaded winter at bay for at least another day.
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And every day counts! Thank you.
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🙂
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When I lived further north, I felt the same as you – now, I dread summer! I would love to be in the UK for summer. It is all in the perspective; I think. My blog post today was about searching for seasons!
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Autumn starts a favourite part of the garden year for me. I appreciate it when the workload is lessened and the snowdrops are appearing – and I especially enjoy plants which flower at a time when I don’t have so much work to do so I have time to enjoy them at leisure.
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I know what you mean. Autumn is beautiful but it is difficult to forget approaching winter, specially in these apocalyptic times.
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I agree with you and Chloris, but ‘must try harder’ to enjoy Autumn, I do love that the work load lessens through the Winter, and I’m a lover of Christmas too, (but I fear for this years Christmas).
Just loved the plant saving heroics you described. The better and longer the Autumn the shorter the Winter.
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I love Christmas too, I also think we will have to make the most of it this year. I am hopeful for a few warm and sunny days to come, but not today!
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