My Thankful Garden

Before we moved here I resold or gave away many holiday decorations. I kept only what was special to me. A way of living with less is something I strive for. Each year, instead of purchasing more decor, I try to turn to what I have and what won't be wasteful. I turn to my garden for many things; solitude, peace, retreat, nature, food, joy and celebration. The garden is always celebrating in season. Spring blooms, Summer blooms, its Fall display, all naturally, simply, breathtakingly beautiful.

Yellow Twig Dogwood leaf in the garden

With a few cuttings brought into the house I feel in spirit with this holiday celebration and in spirit with my garden and the earth.

A butternut squash (which will be eaten) wrapped in grapevine adorns the table. The pumpkin vase is filled with the cuttings of Karl Forester grass blooms (which will be returned to the garden).

A few colorful leaf cuttings from the Forsythia (strategic pruning) look pretty in this Roseville vase. My husband used to collect Roseville pottery. Its range of colors and style can match everyday or a holiday.

Another Roseville vase filled with Birch branches (collected from the dump).

More grapevine (there is plenty to prune) wraps a hurricane candle.

I am so thankful for my garden. Its physical demands drain me of all living frustration. My garden thanks me. Its beauty forces me to be still and wonder. I bring its beauty indoors to celebrate. We also feast most evenings from the Potager which graces our table with the freshest and tastiest food. My garden celebrates and shares with me little moments each day and for that I am very thankful.

How does your garden thank you? What does it give to you? What elements of your garden do you bring indoors to decorate and celebrate?

Pumpkin Compost Pie Anyone?

I thought that this back corner of the yard would be an ideal spot for my compost. Those lattice panels were left in the garage (now turned office/workshop) when we moved here. I thought I would put them to good use. The picture above was taken the year we moved in. I read somewhere that you should not place a compost near mature trees because they would drain all the nutrients - but everywhere I've used my compost, BIG things have happened so I'm not worried about it. In fact, in the heat of summer that Silver Maple and evergreen shade the compost nicely.

This year I'm offering my compost as a buffet table for all my feathered and furry friends. Why shouldn't they feast on Thanksgiving, too? Here, the table is set ...

I used the lattice panels to make three "bins." We used pipe driven into the ground and strapping to secure each panel in place. I try to put "green" stuff in one bin, "brown" stuff in the other, and use the center bin for "mixing." I don't make it complicated. I am certain I mix up green and brown. But all in all it it seems to work. I empty my kitchen scraps in the center, add some stuff from the other bins, turn it each time. In the Spring, I will empty the center bin and spread it around my beds then start all over. I stash my grass removals here - from when I make new beds - any flowers that have fallen over or need cutting back, weeds that have not yet gone to seed, grass clippings, house plant clippings, old potting soil and all sorts of yard and garden waste. The compost is directly across from my shed and in between are my vegetable beds. The layout works out really well. Here was an initial early sketch to give you a better idea ...

Let's see what goodies we have placed out for my friends ...

Petite pumpkin appetizers among the Sunflower stalks ...

A grand Zinnia biscuit!

Some delectable greens I am sure Mr. Rabbit has his eyes on.

(I just harvested some of these for myself today!)

 

Squish jello mold with sprigs of Black-eyed Susan and Cone seeds - yum!

Gourmet gourd ...

Butternut squash - one of my favorites!

Who could resist some dried Sunflower drumsticks?

And of course, there is pumpkin pie with Nightshade berries for dessert!

It looks like someone tasted dessert before the main course, hmm?

My little friends should be as stuffed as I'll be this Thanksgiving holiday. We'll see what surprises pop up in the Spring, too. Hope all of you who celebrate, have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. I certainly am thankful for great family & friends, all the little things ~ creatures, for discovering blotanical, and meeting and sharing my garden with fantastic gardeners -
all of you.