November usually is the time of year to be thankful for raincoats, umbrellas and a covered walkway in the Pacific Northwest.
But unseasonably dry weather earlier this month made for some of the most colorful autumn foliage that this Northwest native has seen in many years.
As I scuffle through a pile of huge golden big leaf maple leaves, sprinkled with tiny, vibrant red leaves from a Japanese maple, I am grateful indeed.
The garden gives so much to be grateful for: that first ripe strawberry, a frozen drop of dew hanging from a bare branch on a cold, clear winter morning, the fragrance of lilac blossoms, a blazing orange leaf suspended over a bed of vibrant gold Japanese forest grass.
Stray Japanese maple leaves adorn Japanese forest grass, their bright red hues complementing the pale greens of the blades. A colorful garden — all year-round — is one of the things the author is thankful for. (Pam Roy)
En route to the car each morning, I am greeted by a brightly colored art pole in my garden created by local artist Stephanie Burgess. The messages inscribed on the pole proclaims “Grace and Gratitude” and “Do all things with love.” This sets the tone for my day, inviting gratitude to replace any other morning mindset that might have been occurring.
The art pole has a place of honor next to a peony that was transplanted from my mother’s last garden. When that peony unveils its showy flowers, I feel so much gratitude for the joy those peonies brought her each spring.
A large, flat-topped boulder, situated to absorb the warmth of the morning sun, offers mindful moments in the garden. Sitting quietly on this boulder brings an opportunity to be fully present and feel gratitude for the simple gift of breath.
Hummingbirds! Such gratitude for their beauty and antics. The hummingbirds liven up the garden, darting and hovering their way through the seasons. In winter, they make quick stabs at the yellow blossoms of a mahonia “Winter Sun,” and in spring feed at blossoms of Weigela and Sedums. During summer months, the hummingbirds have a flight path between the hardy fuschias, Salvias and coral bells. In late autumn, the white bell-shaped flowers of Arbutus unedo become a hummingbird feeding stand.
Perhaps they are thankful for the gardener who planted these.
Last summer’s garden offered much to be grateful for. The two thornless blackberries that were rescued from a yard being demolished thrived in their new location. These two plants yielded an abundant crop of deliciously sweet blackberries. The neighbors were grateful for boxes of these treats left on their front porches.
Along with the berries, peas, beans and kale grown in containers on the back deck yielded grateful additions to the dinner table.
Speaking of edibles, kudos go to programs like Growing Groceries, Plant a Row for the Hungry and Project Harvest, to name a few. These programs encourage community involvement and provide a positive focus and a venue for gardeners to make a difference by sharing edibles they’ve grown, or pitching in to help grow food for those in need.
These are definitely win-win programs: The volunteers are thankful for fresh air and some exercise, and the recipients are ever so grateful for fresh produce.
Gardens offer a place of connection for neighbors of different backgrounds, cultures and ages. I am grateful for the neighbor who mulched the leaves covering my lawn and the neighbor who gave my plants an emergency watering when I was out working. And I have a special shout-out to Jeff the Landscaper for mowing my lawn all summer.
This gardener is grateful for our climate that allows such a variety of plants to be grown. This gardener is also grateful to the dedicated nursery owners and growers who continue to develop new plants to get excited about and make these new additions and old favorites available to generations of gardeners.
With a garden to tend, there is never a lack of things to do. Which brings up one more thing for which to give thanks. Research on sustainable and pollinator- and bird-friendly landscapes encourages a bit of leisure in the winter garden. Instead of tidying up, leave a pile of branches here and there, or allow leaf litter to stay where it drops. This protects the soil from erosion by winter rains and provides cover for beneficial garden dwellers.
Gratefully, November gives gardeners the chance to slow down, put away some of the tools and reflect back on all that this season gives us to be thankful for.
Pam Roy of Planscapes is an award-winning landscape designer with more than 35 years of experience. Email her at info@planscapesdesign.com or call her at 425-238-4678. Go to www.planscapesdesign for more.
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