You’ve worked hard all spring and summer. The garden is starting to wind down. Maybe you’re ready to be done for the year. But fall is the perfect time to relax and enjoy your garden.
Actually, the garden in fall is a lovely place. The cooler weather can slow the growth of your plants, but before the first hard frost hits, the flowers are still be in bloom. And the color in your garden is amazing.
I know there’s much to do yet before the garden is tucked in for the winter, but I want to stop and celebrate my garden during this season. Here are some relaxing things you can do to make the most of this transition time.
5 Ways to Celebrate Your Garden this Fall…
Get Out There
Spend regular time in your garden RELAXING. I’m not talking about doing more garden work. Instead, just go sit in your garden. Pick a time every day to settle in. Watch the changes taking place in the flower beds. Listen to the birds and other wildlife. Take a journal with you and contemplate your garden, your life, your home, family and friends.
Celebrating your garden doesn’t mean that you’re spending more time working in your garden, instead it means to stop working and just take time to enjoy your garden. Slow down and just ‘be’ in the garden.
Here are a few ideas for spending time in your garden:
- Pick a time. It can be the same time every day or you can choose a different time each day. If you don’t decide when you’re going to make the time to relax in your garden, then other things will fill in the space.
- Be prepared. The days and nights are chillier so keep cozy blankets handy to grab and take a warm drink with you.
- Don’t be distracted by work. When we see something that needs to be done we’re off to do it. Instead, take a tablet or note card with you. Then if you see a task that needs to be done you can jot it down for later.
- Use this time to dream about your future garden.
Light Up the Morning and Night
There’s something magical about lights, whether it’s string lights, candles, solar lanterns, or a fire. If you’re out in the garden in the early hours, plug in your lights. At dusk light a few candles or enjoy a fire in your firepit. Having lights just might get you out earlier or encourage you to linger in the garden longer.
Read: 5 Quick and Easy Ways to Make Your Garden Sparkle at night.
Invite Friends Over
While spending time alone in your garden is wonderful, it’s also fun to invite a friend, or two, or three over for a visit. Host an impromptu celebration with your friends, or just opt for a quiet one-on-one visit. One of the reasons we spend so much time growing our gardens is because we love the beauty of it. Why not share that beauty with your sweet friends?
We often feel that we can’t invite friends over until our gardens are just right. Your garden doesn’t need to be perfect. It’s okay if your flowers need to be dead-headed or the lawn needs mowing. The garden is a wonderful backdrop for visiting with friends and family but if we wait until everything is perfect we’ll never be able to share our gardens.
Gather From Your Garden
Your garden not only provides inspiration, it can provide decorations for your home. Look around your garden for anything you can use to bring the garden inside. Pinecones, moss, branches, leaves, acorns,and nuts can be gathered to display with your autumn decor. Flowers, both fresh and dried can be used to make bouquets and autumn displays.
I used to gather from my garden and then save all those bits and pieces for next year. But recently I realized that each season there are new treasures to be found in the garden. So once the season is over, I let go of those found items so they don’t turn into clutter. That leaves room for hunting for new treasures each season.
Get Crafty
Autumn is the perfect time to work on a craft in your garden. Set up a small table and choose a craft to work on. Here are a few ideas:
- Make a wreath.
- Craft a garland from pinecones.
- Paint a watercolor picture. I love the images from this website…Emily Lex Studio.
- Do you remember the joy of coloring? Grab a coloring book and have some fun.
- Knit or crochet while you’re relaxing.
- Make a needle work picture such as embroidery or cross stitch.
- Decorate a chalkboard to display on your porch.
- Press leaves or flowers to use in your decor or for holiday gifts.
Many gardeners consider fall a depressing time. The abundance of the garden is waning and winter is right around the corner. But this season is actually one of the most enjoyable in the garden. The major work of the growing season has slowed down but the beauty remains. The days are cooler, the sunlight is less intense, and the garden just feels at peace.
This year, don’t neglect spending time in your garden. You might just learn to love this gardening season more than all the others. So grab your coffee or tea and head out to the garden to bask in the beauty of fall. The colors, the smells, and the sounds will all enchant you if you take the time to be present in your garden. So get out there and celebrate your garden this fall.