Fall into Winter by Alison Henderson

Soon it will be winter. Even here in Carmel, which has to be the mildest climate on Earth, you can feel the seasons changing if you pay attention. The leaves don't change and fall, like they do elsewhere, but the signs are all around us. I no longer miss a sunrise if I sleep a little later. It's now dark while I fix dinner instead of while I clean up. We've had a few tentative rainfalls, but with luck, the wild winter storms will start blowing in from the sea before too long.

Before they do, I have a few gardening chores to take care of. As much as I hate to do it, I need to cut back my magnificent purple fountain grasses. This one is more than waist high!

I will also cut the flower stalks from my kangaroo paws--favorites of the hummingbirds.

I don't technically have to cut anything back, but I know if I do I'll be rewarded next spring with lush new growth. It's part of the cycle of life that's so important to us gardeners.

I'm also looking forward to evenings by my new fireplace, tucked under my favorite afghan. It never gets really cold here, but the fire and afghan give me a good excuse to keep the temperature down in the house. Last year everything we brought from Minnesota was still in storage, and we spent Christmas in Chicago with our daughter. For the first time in forty years I didn't have a Christmas tree.

Well, that isn't happening again! We'll put up the outside lights in a couple of weeks, and I'll find new places for all my Christmas decoration. I may not see snow this year, but I plan to enjoy winter just the same!

Alison
www.alisonhenderson.com
http://alisonhenderson.blogspot.com