Each of the past five mornings, I have managed to convince myself that there is enough toothpaste in the tube that justifies keeping it for one more day. I vacillate; I should throw this out? No, I should keep it. I am literally trying to squeeze the last little useable bit out of this common household item. It seems that as we transition from one season to the next, there is also the desire to get the most out of each season. We often want fall to last as long as possible before the cold harsh reality of winter sets in.
There are many ways that we can extend the season and perhaps even capture and keep the essence of fall a bit longer. Just as corn and soybeans are harvested this time of the year, flower seeds may also be harvested. Collecting seeds helps preserve biodiversity and it develops new varieties. Want more information? Check out the seed libraries in our area. The Liberty Gardens Seed Lending Library is located in Downer’s Grove and the Holly House Seed Library is located in DeKalb. They offer their visitors free seeds with the promise that additional seeds be harvested and brought back to the library. Is there a particular area of your yard that you are proud of? Is there a tree that has a fabulous fall color this year? Consider snapping a picture and then having the picture used in the creation of a jigsaw puzzle, coaster or a mouse pad. Our family always looks forward to these types of Christmas presents from Snapfish.com.
Instead of simply throwing away all of your annual flowers, consider bringing them inside your home. Flowers such as geranium, hibiscus, begonias and many succulents can be overwintered successfully indoors. You may want to treat the plants with an insecticide prior to bringing them indoors. Placing them in a bright sunny area will help them to adjust. Judiciously water and fertilize them over the next few months and then slowly introduce them to the outdoors next spring.
There are a few plants that can be planted now that will stand up quite well to the coming cold temperatures. Ornamental cabbage, Swiss chard and flowering kale do well even with a bit of snow on them. Want to extend the season of interest in a planter near your front door? Consider planting one of these tough annuals.
If you planted any summer blooming annual bulbs this spring, make sure to dig them up this fall. Dahlias, gladiolas, canna lilies, caladium and elephant ear should all be dug up now. The dry bulbs and rhizomes can be stored in a cardboard box filled with peat moss. Place the box in a cool dark place during the winter.
As basic as it seems, a great way to extend the fall gardening season it to simply cover your flowers if a frost is predicted. A well-placed sheet can allow you weeks more of enjoyment from your flowers because it will protect the plants from cooler temperatures. This spring I noticed that a neighbor had covered their magnolia tree with a few sheets to protect the flowers from frost. I thought it was a great idea but unfortunately didn’t implement it at my own home. Frost came that night and over the next few days, the beautiful pink flowers turned brown and dropped off. I silently berated myself for a solid week for not taking the time to cover up my tree.
In Denmark, they place a contorted filbert branch over their fireplace and hang their Christmas stockings on it. Although we don’t have a similar tradition, branches of many commonly planted shrubs and perennial flowers do offer us some interest that could be brought into our homes. The bright red canes on red twig dogwood and the pealing bark of birch trees both can be used in flower arranging. Ornamental grasses look splendid when incorporated into a design. All types of hydrangea are flowering now. The flowers are hydrangeas are easily dried and can be brought inside. Other flowers such as yarrow, salvia, celosia and strawflower can be dried as well. Drying flowers in the microwave is simple and easy. Need some inspiration? Consider attending the 20th Annual Sun City Artisan Fair on Sunday, October 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Located at the Sun City Prairie Lodge 12940 Del Webb Boulevard it is free to attend and features over 70 exhibitors. Check out their website www.suncityartisanfair.com
Kathleen Carr is the owner of The Growing Scene, Inc., and a landscaping company. She can be reached by calling 815-923-7322 or emailing her at Kathleen@thegrowingscene.com. Have a gardening question? Please contact her. She may address it in an upcoming column.
