About a month ago, Tom and I were at Costco. I was surprised to see that in September they already had their fall wreaths and decorations out. I guess when I categorize months I would probably label September as a “fall” month, but the abruptness of it’s arrival shocked and annoyed me. I was not finished with summer! My summer had passed slowly in a quick way. All of the waiting on getting into the house had stalled time, but the anxiety of preparing for our eventual entrance excited each hour. By the time we finally got in I only had three weeks before I had to return to school. So in essence I felt like my summer was only three weeks long.
I literally left Costco confused- was it really fall already? I determined: not for me! I spent the next few weeks in denial, and I must say not until last weekend did I finally embrace fall. Last Saturday I had a few hours in the yard in between Lauren’s leaving, and my planned outing with the Mary and Brittany. I was bound and determined to plant my tulips, but being the planner that I am, I couldn’t plant them before I had arranged how I wanted them to be displayed, had transplanted anything that had gotten in the way of the design, and had weeded the area into which they would be sewn. Regardless, I never got to planting the tulips- but I did feel the presence of fall, and welcomed it. Last Saturday, and this Saturday were gorgeous fall days. 60 degrees and sunny, with that still fresh coolness that only fall can create. Fall, despite it’s dropping temperatures, has a certain warmth. After a crazy week of absolutely too much to do, fall represented the relaxation of time. I reveled in it.
Yesterday too I soaked in fall. I visited our local nursery (that had given us a $10 gift certificate as a welcome to the neighborhood gift!) It is a spectacular nursery, and I couldn’t have spent my Saturday morning in a more satisfying way. I marveled at the enormous mums, and smirked at the coy pansies. I coveted the Japanese maples, and wondered which of the grasses would look best in our yard. I shook my head at the sight of the various invasive ground covers for sale. When ever I go to nurseries I always feel the need to post a sign: “do not buy these they will take over your garden!” But alas, they live up to their name. I was amazed by the large selection of indoor plants. My heart literally quickened at the sight of all of them. I found myself picking them all up and then putting them down. Their price of $3.50 seemed reasonable, but I don’t need them, I don’t even have pots for them. However I couldn’t resist purchasing a pray plant, as I have never seen one for sale before, and have always wanted one ever since I fell in love with Sabina’s. (I should note, when I brought it home and enthusiastically showed Tom he looked at it disappointedly. I questioned his gaze, and he said, did you know I drove around for an hour one time looking through ever nursery I could find trying to find you one of these last year? I have a dear husband.)
I had brought in the leaves from one of my peony and rose bushes, as suggested by Sabina. They were able to tell me that my roses have Black Spot a fungicide which they said is not worth treating now that it is getting cold, and my peonies are suffering from a mite, that insecticide could cure, but again not unless it comes back next year. At least now I’m prepared!
As I walked away with my prayer plant in one arm and a bucket of pansies in the other I couldn’t help grinning broadly. I love flowers!

(One of my dahlias that has completely taken off over the past few weeks.)
I spent the rest of the morning planting my pansies all up and down the driveway. Well that makes it sound like I bought tons, I bought 15 so I have 7/8 on each side. The color is sparse but there. I transplanted two of our burning bushes from the back of the house to the front of the house. (I had transplanted about 15 hostas the day before.) I then planted a good 40 bulbs in the front beds. I hope my spring garden will be as beautiful as I have imagined it.

(the transplanted burning bushes)