Second Snow Fall and a Walk

It's been nearly 70 days since our last snowfall. Madison received from 4 to 7 inches depending on location.  I would guess our neighborhood had between 4 and 5 inches. I cleared the driveway and sidewalks in mid-morning with the Snow Commander snow blower. Tomorrow morning I will once again start-up the Commander.  A mixture of gas and oil powers the Commander. I am sorry to say the engine emits fumes, causing me to smell like a refinery after the job is done.  I wear a special outfit, which  includes a heavy hooded cloth coat purchased years ago from the old Burlington Coat Factory, once located on Odana. 

After I finished, I decided to visit the Gardens and go for a walk. I love walking in a winter snowstorm. I bought myself a Fitbit for Christmas. One of the cheaper ones that you clip to your clothes. Fitbit has assigned me the goal of 10,000 steps a day.  I have no idea how the number was calculated. Anyhow, the assigned goal was an additional incentive to head West on the path.

A combination of sleet, snow and freezing rain fell as I approached the
Gardens. As expected, the Gardens were blanketed with snow. Plows already removed some the snow from the path leaving about an inch of newly falling snow covering the path. Before walking West, I looked around and here are a few scenes from the Gardens on this winter day.

The cherry tree in the middle of the picture is in dormancy with it's roots now protected with snow.  The plants in the foreground are remnants of Purple Cones.  The orange snow fence waits for more snow while I am hoping it signals city plowers to stick snow to the right.  I am optimistic that the fence will serve its purpose, since this is the third year we put up snow fences.    

 Here is what remains of the once green wispy grasses that waved in the warm summer breezes. I imagine, like me, they are enjoying the peace and solitude of a winter day. Winter offers so many opportunities to turn inward or to curl up with a book.  My daughter, Emily, gave me Jim Shapiro's "The Year of Lear: Shakespeare in 1606" for Christmas.  I am enjoying this book that combines literary analysis and historical insights of what is often considered Shakespeare's most creative year. In late spring, I completed a great online course focusing on several of Shakespeare's plays, but not King Lear.

Here is a silhouette of Bee Balm against the mural. The mural features stencils of individuals using the path. Today I witnessed bikers with bikes having fat balloon tires made for the snow, walkers like myself walking alone, people walking their dogs, joggers, and of course, cross country skiers.  Despite the snow, sleet and rain,  it seemed like we were all out enjoying ourselves. For me, the elements added to the enjoyment.

Eventually, I made my way to Glenway Street and turned around to head home.  As I turned to head home, I felt the full effect of the strong East wind and the pallets of ice against my face. I readjusted the hood on my jacket, pulling it more over my head and tightened the two straps, creating a slit for viewing the snowy world as I continued my homeward trek.  

The storm outside has subsided as bedtime approaches.  I will turn off the Christmas tree lights and the electric candles in most of our house's windows before retiring. Maybe I will read a chapter about Shakespeare and his best year. 

Oh yes, the Fitbit informs me that I made my goal:  10,416 steps or 4.97 miles to be exact. Today, I also burned 2,297 calories and climbed the equivalent of 39 floors. Now what do I do with this information?
Eat another cookie?  

Bringing Home the Holiday Tree

This morning, while enjoying the unseasonably warm weather, Ann and I purchased a Frazier Fir.  Once again, we went  to the University of Wisconsin Stock Pavilion, where the Forestry Club sells trees. Proceeds support student career development for those enrolled in the Department of Forestry and Wild Life Ecology.

The Stock Pavilion is a grand old building finished in the fall of 1909 and during an era when barns were like cathedrals, built to tell others the spiritual value of agriculture and rural life. These agricultural cathedrals had style and grace in contrast to the utilitarianism of modern day farm buildings. Today's mega-farms, with over 3,000 milking cows, stress efficiency and profit and less the spirituality of agriculture.

I have special childhood memories of the Stock Pavilion. If you have been reading past entries, you know that I attended a one room rural schoolhouse, near Pulaski Wisconsin, for six years. Through the Wisconsin School of the Air, we received our music instruction from a Professor Gordon. Some of his programs were broadcasted from the Pavilion. Professor Gordon directed the audience made-up of students from throughout the state. I always imagined the Pavilion packed with students like myself.  

You drive into the Stock Pavilion, park your car and a cheerful future forester helps you pick out a tree. I always like to look at several before picking one that I think "speaks to me."  We chose one that is about 6 feet tall and full, of course. 

The picture to the right shows the available amble supply of trees. Along the wall to the left are more trees waiting to be unbundled.

While Ann and I picked out a wreath, the cheerful young man tied our selected tree to the roof of our Honda Civic. The young man thought we had a brand new car.. When I told him it was a 2012 model, he remarked that his car is so much older than ours and had some rust.

Ah yes, graduates school days. When I was completing a Master Degree in Political Science in 1968, I bought a 1962 Chev Blair, using funds from a National Defense Education loan. The price was $500, if I am recalling correctly .  I needed a car for transportation to my various part time jobs. One summer I had two jobs besides managing a student apartment building.  Those were definitely not the good old days.

On one trip with the Blair, I discovered why the car was such a deal.  The frame under the front end was welded and the weld gave way, making steering quite challenging. The car was repaired but eventually junked.

 Here I am pointing to the wreath that Ann picked out. The lucky one is not in the picture. It's a beauty that now hangs on our front door. The wreath joined our other front stoop decorations that include lights around the door and the small roof over the stoop, plus greenery in the short pillar-like planters. This weekend I will place the electric candles in the windows.  

  

Home with the tree. Most likely tomorrow, I will put the tree in a stand and place the tree in a corner of the sun porch, an extension of our living room . We like to have a bare tree for a few days; enjoying the beauty of a unadorned tree.

Once again we will haul down the ornaments from the attic storage area. Many now are approaching being 40 years old, bought when we lived in Portland, Oregon during the late 1970s.  Hanging lights is my specialty; while Ann and I hang the ornaments together.

All will be in place when our daughter Emily comes home on December 19th. She will be with us until the 26th. Before her arrival, I must buy some wood for a couple of fires in the fireplace. The wood box out in the garage is finally empty. I will fill it in anticipation of cozy fires and pleasant holidays. 

Sunny Day and Green in the Gardens

On this spectacular day of sunshine and with a temp approaching 50 degrees, I went on a long walk that included a stroll through the Prospect Gardens.  I went walking after buying our Holiday Tree, the subject of my last entry. These five pictures are a testimony to the mild weather while revealing how all the snow, the topic of my last blog entry, is gone. 

I noticed all the green in the Gardens and reacted with mixed feelings. I enjoyed the warm sun and the shadows cast by the winter sun, low in the sky.  On the other hand, the gardener in me noted the lack of a protective snow cover and how some plants were still growing. Dormancy just was not for them; at least not yet.





These lush and green strawberry plants may be fooled that spring time is already here. They will surely be surprised when winter returns, as it certainly will.

Likewise, these sedges are still tinged with green instead of being a dull brown.  They too have escaped the mild frosts, at least for the time being. 

Notice the green foliage, most likely weeds, in this picture of the raspberry patch.  Weather, like today, promotes growth of weeds. Maybe if this weather continues, I could do some weeding and that would certainly set a record for early gardening.

Notice the terracing up the hillside.  About two years ago, Dave, a neighbor, and I did the terracing with stone donated by another neighbor.  This prevents erosion while providing steps for easier access to the berries higher up the slope.

In the top portion of the picture is the orange snow fence put up a few weeks ago. The aim is to prevent the city plowers from pushing the snow into the Gardens and it worked last year.    



A few brown leaves still cling to the cherry tree. The tree is two years old and is part of a memorial section for Peg, one of the first gardeners. In the right lower corner of the picture are the green remains of Coreopsis. These sprung up from last season's seeds and late in the 2015 growing season.  I was surprised when they showed up.

Certainly, all of these scenes will change in the upcoming weeks as we move through December. I am indeed waiting for a white cover and a white Christmas.  I do love sunny days and yet... hey.. this is Wisconsin and snow is important in the cycle of life.

     

First Snowfall

Fall has made its inevitable turn into winter; at least for the time being. This morning we shoveled the heavy snow that accumulated during the night. I would say about 4 inches at the most. Definitely not six inches since at that point the snow removal service takes over. Ann already cleared the sidewalks by the time I bundled up and made my appearance.  I didn't use the snow blower because the snow contained a high level of water.  Plus I am always reluctant to use the Snow Commander, because my clothes smell like an oil refinery afterward. 

I ventured to the Prospect Gardens eager to see the effects of winter. Today UW plays Northwestern. Pictured to the right are loyal fans making their way through the Gardens and to Camp Randall, about two block east. A former colleague, Chad and his brother, two nephews and their Grandfather, are attending the game and parked their vehicle in our driveway. Chad is from Oshkosh and his brother and family are from Kalamazoo, Michigan.

They were all bundled up in warm clothes, well prepared for the cold of Camp Randall stadium. As the family made final preparation Chad and I caught up with the news regarding the UW Extension Center. I worked with Chad and other Center staff.

Here are five pictures revealing how the snow has transformed Gardens into a winter wonderland.

Seed pods of the Purple Cone flowers now have caps of white cotton. The brown stems stand out in sharp contrast to the white snow. 

 The reddish-brown stag horns of the Japanese Sumac crown to what struck me as an abstract Christmas tree.  Anybody recall the 1960's flocked Christmas tree craze?  As teenagers, my sister Angie and I were even swept-up in the frenzy. We attempted to "flock" a tree in the basement of our farm home using an old vacuum cleaner. We plugged the hose in the exhaust, as instructed in the kit, that somehow we convinced our reluctant mother to buy. The end result did not come close to what we imagined or to the picture of the flocked tree on the front of the kit.    

 Here is the forsythia with its own "flocking." Mother nature is much more skilled at flocking than my sister and me.

 Raspberry plants transformed into triangles and cotton balls.

 

This late blooming Black Eyed Susan is frozen into a sculpture of green, yellow and white. The effect almost looked like glass from above.

So winter, at least for the next few days, will be our companion. The forecast calls for slowly rising temperatures with a high of 51 on Thanksgiving.  The winter wonderland of Prospect Gardens will surely disappear.







  

    

Bob (Mulch King) Enjoying Lemon Bars

In my last entry about yesterday's work session, I forgot to include pictures of  one of the highlights of the morning: Mulch King Bob enjoying Ann's lemon bars.


These two  pictures tell everything. No need to say anything more.

Memories and Final Comunity Work Session

This morning we completed final preparations of the Prospect Gardens for winter and the next season. Besides myself, Ann, Ken, Laura and Bob (known as the Mulch King) worked diligently under a warm fall sun.  We weeded, cut back plants and put up snow fences. Oh yes, we took a break and enjoyed Ann's homemade lemon bars. A great treat made from a recipe of a cookbook Ann and I received as a wedding present: "Still Cooking in Pulaski." This Wisconsin village near Green Bay is my hometown.

I was born on a farm about six miles south of Pulaski, and lived and worked on that farm until I graduated from high school in 1962.  In April of that year, my Mother sold the farm and moved into the village, and as they say, the rest is history.

My paternal grandmother(who lived with us)was a great gardener; both flowers and vegetables. My mother(who had 14 children) was the cook, and canned vegetables from the garden and the fruit from our orchards. She also purchased and canned peaches, and Door County cherries. Ma canned hundreds of quarts, all stored in the basement. Also stored in the basement were a 5 foot mason crock of sauerkraut, a smaller crock of salt brine pickles, mounds of potatoes, a pile of carrots and pumpkins and squash.  This was our food supply until the next season.

Along with the food cache was a large wood pile and a pile of coal to keep us warm during the cold winter months. Ma kept those wood stoves fed 24/7.

Back to today. Here are seven pictures of today's crew.   Now we wait patiently for a snow cover to protect the plants.

 Here's Ken weeding the raspberry patch. A few raspberries were still available. I found raspberries further west of the Gardens and on the side of the path while walking yesterday. The berries tasted so sweet while being cold in my mouth. A wonderful November treat. Thanks Ken for you diligent work today and throughout the season.











 Here's Bob demonstrating his abilities with the pruning shears. We refer to Bob, as the Mulching King, because he likes to mulch and is good at it. I hasten to add his skills with the pruning shears may add another title; perhaps "Prince of Shears"?


Thanks Bob. I greatly appreciate your enthusiasm and continued participation. You are becoming a gardener's gardener. Mulch season will be here before we know it.

 Laura is busy cutting back the day lilies as she flashes that warm smile. Notice the angle she is working at. Many parts of the Gardens are on slopes, which adds an additional challenge and strain to gardening.

Thanks Laura for your stamina, laughter and dedication . I always enjoy our bantering.

Here is me pounding a steal post for the orange snow fence that stretches across a space on the Regent side and protects the Gardens from over zealous snow plowers. Bob noted my blaze orange windbreaker and wondered if I was expecting to go dear hunting.

Nope, not a dear hunter.  The windbreaker is from my running days when I ran after work and in the dark. I haven't run in years. Now I go to the Shell at Camp Randall during the winter months.

 Four of the crew in front of the installed snow fence and on the Dudgeon Monroe side of the gardens. Notice, Ken, Bob and I are wearing  our Southwest Path Stewards t-shirts. Come join us next season and you too may receive one of these coveted Madison iconic shirts.

 Ann showing a packet holding one of her delicious lemon bars. She always makes a treat. Bob says he volunteers primarily because of Ann's treats. In Bob's case, the way to his volunteering  is definitely through his taste buds.

Thanks Ann for your generosity and for your steady willingness to pitch in. Ann enjoys sweeping and removing leaves and other debris from the ramps, making them safer for all bikers. She weeds too, but wants me around to make sure she isn't pulling up plants !

 Finally, here's Ann and I enjoying the end of the 2015 season. It's been wonderful working with neighbors throughout the six year history of Prospect Gardens. Thanks to all who have participated this year. A special thank you to Joyce who couldn't make it today, and to Claudia and Steve for all their work during this season also.

I look forward to next year as well as the upcoming winter months.  During the winter months, I will continue posting blog entries as the Gardens rest, and the plants sink deeper roots for the 2016 season.

A joyful Thanksgiving to all.







  

Birthday Memories,Sadness and Plants form Christina

Today begin as a joyous day in large part because Emily, our daughter, was born thirty-one years ago during the  very early morning hours in a Lawrence, Massachusetts hospital. So many memories of that day including me leaving the car running and the doors open after I escorted Ann into the hospital. I sheepishly returned to the Honda after a nurse told me about this embarrassing situation. The hospital was located in what Emily would call a "sketchy" part of town.

Another wonderful memory is calling my dear mother-in-law, Ethel, to tell her about the birth of her granddaughter. Later we learned that she got on her knees to thank God for the safe arrival of Emily and the good health of Ann. Since it was very early in the morning, she proceeded to make two pies. Ethel was a great cook and baker. She gave one of the pies to a friend who will never forget the day Emily was born.

These cherished  memories are now tinged with the sadness because of the Paris terrorist attacks.  May all the suffering and pain be held in compassion.

Today reminds me that joy and sorrow can be intertwined and are so part of this unpredictable life. A little joy, a few days, ago was an email from Christina, a neighbor on Gregory Street, offering prairie plants.  Since I have a hard time refusing plants, and especially if they are prairie plants, I picked them up.  The six plants are in the picture to the right.  I am unsure about the type. Some are most likely bee balm, liatris, golden rod and purple cone flower.

It's a little late for planting. Yet because of the warm November and the large earth balls surrounding the plants, chances are good that these will survive and bloom next season.

 I removed a mature shrub planted six years ago that was taking over a substantial area and replaced the shrub with several of the donated plants. In retrospect, the shrub should never have been planted. Who knew that it would grow so vigorously ?

I felt some remorse as I dug the shrub out. The thick main stem and root required using an ax to remove the sturdy shrub. Required also was the pruning shears with the long handles.

 After much physical effort, the bed that once anchored the shrub now has two of Christina's plants. One plant can be seen in the picture. Two other donated plants are nearby and the remaining two found new homes in a northwest section of the Gardens and across the path. Note the rocks surrounding the bed. Much of the gardens have these rocks, used to supposedly control erosion. 

These rocks contribute to what I call "extreme gardening."  As you can see from the picture, rocks are removed to create a bed. In this spot the rocks go at least a foot down into the earth and underneath is a thick mat designed to prevent weeds. So creating a bed requires removing rocks, cutting and removing the mat, and replacing rocks with dirt. I guarantee that the entire effort results in a good physical workout. No need to go to the gym after "extreme gardening."

Tomorrow, we have a community work session from 9 to noon. Preparation for winter, including putting up snow fences and cutting back plants, is the order of the day.  Another workout, but not extreme gardening.  Come join us.

   

   

Perfect and Peaceful Day

I search for words to describe today and how the sun, blue skies and mild wind affected me and revealed itself in the Prospect Gardens. Cliches such as "perfect day" and "peaceful" come to mind and yet these seem inadequate to describe today.  Maybe what I overheard the mail carrier exclaim is a slightly better: "Can you believe this is November 3rd?"


This morning's leisurely bike ride west on the Southwest Commuter Path to the Badger State Trail, and almost to Paoli, couldn't have been better. Sun and a light breeze on the outbound and return trip of nearly 20 miles were enjoyed.  I pedaled at a moderate to slow speed, cherishing the elements of this splendid day.

Along the way and once I crossed into Fitchburg, I stopped to read the text making up the newly installed trail signage along what is now identified as part of the Fitchburg Agriculture Route (FAR). FAR tells the story of Fitchburg's past and present, a story in which farming is important. I am a farm boy at heart, born on a 120 acre farm near Pulaski, Wisconsin and farmed until my senior year of high school (1962), when the farm was sold.

In retrospect, this morning's bike path was a historical tour of my backyard.  I learned that within its city limits Fitchburg (as of 2010) has approximately 11,220 acres in crops and pasture. Farming and farm land is still obvious along the path, illustrating the 21st century phenomena of rural and urban being blended together and existing side-by-side.


The Stoner Prairie, named after the Stoner Family and early settlers from the late 18th century, is still being farmed. According to the signage, the prairie is made up of the richest and most productive soils in the United Stated. Until today, I never knew its name. The dried corn rustled in the gentle wind waiting to be harvested as I made my way west, feeling the gentle wind on my face.
 
I also learned about the one room schoolhouse that closed in 1965 and named after the Stoner family. I  attended a one room schoolhouse near Pulaski, Wisconsin, completing the first six grades before it was closed in 1956.  Both schools closed due to the consolidation movement, an effort to reform rural education based on urban schools. The Stoner School, now a neat and tidy home, is about 2 tenth of a mile west on Vroom Road. My old schoolhouse, Polandi, is also now a home. I could not resist leaving the bike path and traveling the short distance up the grade to see the Stoner school.

I encourage you to bike the FAR and learn more about the history of Fitchburg and the surrounding area. On the way back home and as I peddled up the bike ramp to our street, I noticed how the sun reflected off the trees ahead of me. After a light lunch, I returned attempting to capture the splendor of what I had witnessed.  The remaining three pictures are also an inadequate substitute for what I saw and the impressions made in my mind.











This Japanese Sumac has almost lost all of its foliage, which is unusual. It's bare branches and deep red seed pods stand out against the blue sky.  I'm making a note of this condition. Perhaps a good pruning during the early spring is required.
  



     

A scene looking toward the east.  The red and green foliage in the forefront of the picture is Forsythia. Can you believe, this six foot plant was once only about a foot tall. Without yearly pruning this plant would be taller.

In the early spring, the Forsythia will announce the new season with it's brilliant yellow flowers. However, before then it will face the cold winds of winter. Spring will surely arrive and the Forsythia will once again burst with yellow blooms.

This scene is on the Regent side of the Gardens and towards the west.  Note another Japanese Sumac in the forefront of the picture. This one still has almost its foliage, turning into the characteristic golden yellow; a very healthy plant.


A few years ago, we thought we lost this one due to how the city pushed snow into the Gardens. The force of the snow being pushed severed the plant which proved to be just exactly what it needed. Any day now we will put up the orange plastic snow fences that signals the plowers to place the snow east of this section of the garden.

Tomorrow's forecast  is for more of the same warm weather followed on Thursday by the inevitable rain and cold of  November.  This indeed is a season of transition. My winter mittens, hats and scarfs have found their way from the upstairs guest bedroom closet to the front foyer. Tomorrow they will remain there.


I am anticipating a walk in the nearby UW Arboretum. I will check out the forest while walking through the fallen leaves. The rustling sound of dried leaves is one of the pleasures of late fall.  

     

Moments of Solitude and Change

Today from about 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. I worked alone in the Prospect Gardens enjoying periods of solitude. Cut back more plants, weeded and transplanted a Blue False Indigo plant. False Indigo is a prairie plant with deep roots along with thick hard woody appendages that required an ax to break through. I received the original plant from Dianne, a neighbor.  Her front yard is a beautiful garden with Blue False Indigo.  An axe was also needed when digging up that original plant. I am somewhat optimistic that next spring Prospect Gardens will have two additional Blue Indigo plants with their deep blue flowers that appear during late spring.

My solitude was interpreted several times. Two women stopped to pick and enjoy a few of the remaining raspberries.  They continued their walk down the commuter path after expressing gratitude for the Gardens and the raspberries.  A father and his young daughter followed shortly after the women departed. I was working on the upper section on the Regent side of the Gardens.  I spotted several handfuls of raspberries waiting to be picked. I invited the girl to join me and told her how to find her way up to where I was working. She gently plucked the ripe raspberries into her cupped hands while I held the branches. Then she enjoyed her treat.

Four neighbors also stopped to chat. Richard and his wife were starting their walk along the path.  Ann was returning from the Edgewood College library with Ta-nehisi Coates' "Between the World and Me."   We agreed that the book was not a light read. While Ann and I were talking, Barb on her bike coasted to a stop. She was returning from visiting a friend and colleague whose husband is battling fourth stage brain cancer.  I mainly listened while Ann and Barb talked about the caretaking role and how to support Barb's friend.

After Ann and Barb left, I continued to work for about another hour enjoying the sunshine and the muted colors of the Gardens while being mindful of how life can suddenly change. Change, impermanence, and uncertainty are so part of our lives. The following five pictures capture the changes underway throughout the Gardens and the beauty of the final life cycle of the Garden's inhabitants.

Here's a seed head of a Purple Cone flower waiting to disperse or be a food source for birds. Note the muted colors in the background.

The light purple leaves are those of a miniature lilac bush. A neighbor donated the lilac. I really should move the lilac to a more sunny spot. This will take some effort and energy since the lilac is now bigger than when I first planted it several years ago.  Something to think about during early spring 2016.

The leaves of this hosta, once green, are turning a mellow yellow. I won't cut the hostas back because the leaves break down to a fine mesh. Less work for the gardeners. The Hosta Garden, under the trees on the Regent Side of the gardens has several different kinds of hostas, all donated by neighbors or friends of mine.

Can you guess this plant?  It's Bee Balm (Bergamot). I love the color and shape of the leaves. 

These Aguga, sprinkled with dried leaves, still have have their purple color.  They have turned into a deeper purple now that the growing season is ending. A final show of color before the deep frost and the arrival of cold winds followed by snow. Next spring they will appear once again for another season of life.

Winter Preparation and a Baby

Yesterday we began preparing the Prospect Gardens for winter and the next growing season. Since the Gardens are close to homes, prescribed burns in spring, as happens with other gardens along the Southwest Commuter Path, are impossible.  Instead we must cut down many of the plants and haul them up the ramp creating the large pile pictured to the right.
 
We leave some plants, such as the Purple Cones and the Rattle Snake Masters, intact hoping that their seeds will spread and they surely will. Intact plants also add texture to the winter garden while providing feed for birds.

As the pile indicates this year was a very good growth year for the Gardens. A few, such as Saw Tooth Daises and Asters, are still in bloom.  These will soon succumb to the inevitable frost and the cycles of nature will continue.

In early November we will remove more plants and end the season with putting up the plastic orange snow fences. These are unattractive but inform the snow plowing crews where not to push snow into the Gardens.  We worked all this out with representatives from the city department in charge of snow removal. City crews have been so responsive including picking up the pile of plant materials early this morning.  I learned that the supervisor starts work at 5 a.m. !

While we were working a man from the city water department arrived and removed the water mater and the connection to the hydrant through which we have access to city water. Another task indicating that the season is ending.

Among the work crew was Megan and her baby boy. A special thanks to both for joining the crew. Megan, and her husband Pat, recently moved into the neighborhood.  Such an enjoyable family and a wonderful addition to the neighborhood.

The baby slept blissfully as Megan worked for nearly an hour and half. A few whimpers indicated that he was ready for a mid-afternoon meal, prompting a return home.  Indeed a very laid-back and contented child. Perhaps a possible future volunteer.We will keep him on our list.

   Others volunteers included Bob. He is being a little shy (or silly) in this picture.  Bob has earned the title of "Mulch King" since he loves to spread mulch and is so good at it. Sorry,Bob, no mulching this time. You need to wait until spring for your reign to resume.

We enjoyed hearing about Bob's summer adventures of climbing Mt. Rainier during our break and while enjoying Ann's homemade Pumpkin Bread. A tasty treat shared with Joyce, another volunteer. Sorry no picture of Joyce.  My iPhone froze up, and later in the evening from querying the Web, I learned how simple it was to bring it back to life. Hold the power button and the home button for ten seconds or until the Apple icon returns. These phones still amaze me; forms of magic.

Joyce will be leaving at the end of the week for a tour of Patagonia. Joyce so enjoys traveling. Bob asked Joyce if she ever was to Antarctica. With a hearty laugh, Joyce replied "Been there, done that." Within the last year, she has also toured Iceland.

Steve stopped by after running some errands and pitched in before leaving early for another engagement. In a few days, Steve will be returning to Corvallis, Oregon to once again visit his daughter and grandson. Happy travels to Steve and Joyce.

The picture to the right shows one of the sections we cleared out on the breezy, warm and sunny fall day. The young cherry tree in the foreground, planted last year, still has many green leaves. It's one of three cherry trees in the upper Garden on the Regent side.

As I already reported, another work session will be needed before preparations are completed. Watch for the announcement of the specific date.  We always welcome new volunteers including babies !  Recruiting volunteers at a young age is my new strategy.

Fall Scenes and Learning

Autumnal splendor continues at the Prospect Gardens. Here are a few scenes as we proceed through October.

The Japanese Sumac has just about replaced summer green with a reddish golden color that soon will turn to yellow.  We planted this one nearly six years ago. Perhaps it's time for a pruning.

 Several Asters have already lost their color and gone to seed but not this one.  The pinkish/purple blooms will also soon turn brown. In the meantime, I enjoy its warm welcome and especially on a cloudy day like today.

 The Saw Tooth Daisies are at their prime. Bright yellow blooms greeted me on this quiet morning as I returned from the gym. My weekly routine, during the late fall and all winter, includes at least three days (sometimes more) at the Shell which is part of the Camp Randall complex.  A ten minute walk from home.   I look forward to those winter walks when the gardens and the path are covered with fresh snow.

A few raspberries from the autumn crop are still available.  With each passing day, the number decreases.  This year, I will wait until spring to prune and cut the plants back.  We usually prune in November.  On Sunday after a church (First Unitarian Society), I happened to talk with the former Director of the Olbrich Gardens  and I mention the upcoming task of pruning the raspberries.  She informed me that spring pruning is much better since sometimes November can have warm temperatures that result in the plants sending out shoots. So I learned something new, as is usually the case in gardening.