It’s autumn – my FAVORITE (and I mean FAVORITE) time of
year. Yes, I like autumn more than even
summer when my garden is in full bloom.
Walking through Monument Valley Park or Garden of the Gods while
crunching orange, red and yellow leaves beneath my boots, with just a pinch of
coolness in the air – sipping hot cinnamon spice tea while eating a slice of
homemade pumpkin bread (did this just last night!) – enjoying a fire in the
fireplace in the evening – lighting candles again because the days are getting
shorter and you can actually enjoy the warm flickering flames – and watching my
garden prepare for a long winter’s sleep.
Oh. And tulip bulb planting - yes, tulip bulb planting!
Well, it’s been a bit of a challenge to get the bulbs in
this year but I was finally able to do so this past weekend.
I also planted a few bulbs at Genny’s house, with the help of my little
gardening buddy, Hannah. I LOVE LOVE
LOVE that Hannah likes to garden and am hoping this is not just a phase she is
going through. In fact, I am looking forward to years
of gardening with this precious granddaughter of mine.
I ordered these bulbs from an Old World Gardening house and
had a few delivered to my other gardening buddy, my niece Christie. These are heirloom bulbs, most of which are
progenies of the late 1800 and early 1900 Victorian Gardens, although some
bulbs harken back to the 16th Century. I ordered one rare bulb (and I mean just one
because it was kind of expensive) that is a 1780 progeny. It is a Dutch Bizarre from
the Hortus Bulborum, and if it comes to life next spring, it will have a swirl
of dark chocolate brown petals. In
Colorado, I always use the word “if” with tulips because a spring blizzard can
take out everything. I also planted
Black Parrot, Irene Copeland, and Florentine (dates to 1597) bulbs.
Along with the tulips I planted hyacinth, narcissus,
daffodil, and peony. Just in time before
the snow is predicted to hit on Weds.
And with the snow, there goes autumn in Colorado. The trees will be stripped of their leaves
and left bare. Fall is such a short,
brief, beautiful season here. Ahhh . . .
but I like winter, too, because along comes Thanksgiving and Christmas, snow
encrusted branches, Jack Frost, homemade potato soup and corn muffins. There is always something to appreciate in
every season, isn’t there? We grow where
we are planted . . . and sometimes, where we are transplanted.
