Island Autumn

As I waited (and waited) to get to this site, I thought to myself that it's a good thing I'm a gardener. It helps one learn patience, and living in rural New Brunswick with dial-up speed access on the computer, patience is much needed.

The cooler nights of fall are here, but we are enjoying sunshine and fairly warm days, and the sky is a joy to behold. It has that clear blue that we only get in fall, cloudless - a glorious backdrop to the gold, copper and crimson of the trees. There is something exhilarating about a bright autumn morning.

Last week, I found a poor Monarch butterfly worse for wear after a very chilly night. A female (the males have two black wing spots), she huddled on the sedum in my lower garden bed all day. I hadn't the heart to just leave her there & let nature take its course, so I put her in a shoebox with some sedum & butterfly bush blooms. Up close, it was obvious she had a damaged wing that made flying awkward, so I didn't think she'd last long outside. A local public garden kindly agreed to give her a home in a heated greenhouse, so I dropped her off in style. Hope she thinks she made it south for whatever time she lives. I read that most non-migrating Monarchs live about four weeks.

Thanksgiving is just about here, and this year we're having an extended holiday since school professional development days come right afterward. Five lovely days of not having to get up at 6 a.m. - I'm as happy as my son & his friends about that. Since my sister does a big family get-together & considers turkey at Christmas more than enough, we'll be having a nice ham dinner there. I'm attempting to do a small turkey at home earlier, probably Saturday, & hoping my old oven will do the job.

A few years ago, I invited my mum for Christmas the first year we were renting this old house. I put a big turkey (thawed) in the oven and we waited all day and into the evening for the bloody thing to cook!! It finally did, but since then I do nothing bigger than 10 lbs. Just one of the things you deal with in older homes with unpredictable appliances. I've since discovered that the oven controls and actual heat level inside aren't always a match.

Looked out the window of my sister's house at dusk a few days ago just in time to see a big doe stroll across the yard and into the wooded area beside the path. Then as we were driving home, we saw a four-point buck standing under the trees in a neighbour's front yard.

The songbirds are enjoying the goldenrod bloom out in the field beyond my garden, often see sparrows & finches darting around the low shrubbery. Crickets have been singing non-stop now for a while, & I still see the occasional grasshopper. Most of my garden is done, though up to today I've been getting a few runner beans every two or three days. The gold & yellow gem marigolds are still blooming, if a bit shabby close up, and the sedum has darkened to a burgundy red that brightens up the lower garden. The peony leaves are a nice fall bronze next to the butterfly bush. It bloomed late and is attracting bees and the occasional late season butterfly still. It has creamy yellow rather than the usual purple buddliea blooms. Right in front of the kitchen window, makes it a perfect spot for watching the insect traffic. Today a Painted Lady has been vying with the bees to get at the nectar.

Bluejays have been visiting the apple tree out front for the past few days, not sure if the apples or insects are drawing them. I usually get more crows than jays, they've gotten used to getting the bread crusts & old stuff I toss out to the driveway for them.

Election time next week & here's hoping for a good outcome. Hope everyone who can gets out to vote. When I was younger, I travelled a bit & met people who risked their lives for the right to choose their own representatives, so I hate to see us as Canadians not use the hard won rights we have. Happy Thanksgiving, all!!