Photo by Bev Crawford
Pink and yellow fall aster attracts pollinators.
We are sure appreciating the colour in our yard these days. The sun has lowered on the back patio so the very prolific planters I made in spring have been moved to a sunnier location in the yard. Our many roses are really showing their beauty with these cool nights, but I am wary of what the cold temperatures coming this weekend are going to do to all of the plants.
My weather report shows snowflakes and -6 C for Sunday, Monday, and freezing temperatures next week. We will pull the annual planters into the garage and hope that the roses can withstand the cold. There are so many blooms and buds yet to bloom. We have thirty-five roses still showing off! Our Bloomerang Lilac is still blooming also.
The bees and wasps have migrated from the Pinky Winky Hydrangea to the spectacular fall aster in the sunnier front yard. It is such a magnet for pollinating insects. A definite for next year again is the super successful salvia sage in my large planters. That is the plant the hummingbird liked the most, as well as the red Monarda, bee balm.
We have guesstimated (that’s not a word but we did guess to estimate) the number of sparrows that reside in our yard to be two dozen. We can count up to a dozen actively sunning themselves on the fence and splashing in the birdbath. They all live in the cedar during the winter months. They plunge into the Red Osier Dogwood out front and the huge shrub is always in motion with their activity. Life is good when you can sit and watch the birds.
My favourite, besides the robin, is the wee nuthatch and its chitter chatter, darting to and fro for peanuts and shelled sunflower seeds to cache for winter. Many people don’t like noisy grackles at their feeders because they appear in a gluttonous flock and empty them. But when you see these birds gathered to drink and the sun shines on them they are an iridescent display of green, blue, purple, and gold. I won’t miss them when they migrate.
Soon we will all migrate indoors so it is time to put your garden to bed. Save your fallen leaves to spread over the perennials for added insulation. We all know the Alberta chinooks do damage to tender plants. If you have perennials to divide or move it is a good time to do it. Take photos of your yard to help with planning in the spring. Cut and dry any herbs you planted.
Shop the farmers’ market and local greenhouses to get some preserves canned for winter. We live next to the famous Greenhouse Capital of the West after all.
If you have a vegetable garden know that any root veggies will sweeten with some frost, but get your tomatoes and peppers picked. Throw a blanket over pumpkins, squash, and anything else that’s near ripe.
This very colourful time of year is a delight but I always feel a slight premise of melancholy to being forced inside for the winter months. I am happy that the blue jays, magpies, flickers, nuthatches, chickadees and sparrows will stay to keep me entertained. Buy yourself a bird feeder to help the birds endure the cold outside world.
Beverly Crawford is the Perennial House Manager at The Windmill Garden Centre and John’s Butterfly House.
