I was thinking back to last year at this time and went back to read what I was doing. I found that I was more relaxed with my cleanup. I left a few areas without doing much, because I found that it was easier to do in the spring. The area, where the Lilies of the Valley are, for instance...much easier to just leave until spring. This leaves a place where wildlife can hide and keep warm. I read this just this morning... Some might call my garden “uncontrolled” but I call it wildlife-friendly. The beauty of it comes not just from the plants but from the birds, bees, butterflies, amphibians, mammals etc which have been made welcome by my creating habitats for them. Everyone can do the same by just being a little bit more uncontrolled. After the harvest, relax and enjoy the fruits of your labour and leave the garden to look after itself and the wildlife. Being too tidy is the eighth deadly sin.
I am leaning in that direction. At my stage of life, I have to find ways to make things easier outside. Isn't it easier to pull the dried, dead,Lily leaves than to go out and tussle with those tough strapping leaves right now? How about Coneflowers and other seedy plants...Birds love the seed heads. I put a little support out by mine just last week, when I noticed gold finches trying to eat them and they were lying on the ground. Now they are propped up and are covered with little birds everyday. My neighbor tosses his pine needles away and burns them. I brought some of them over to my house and used them for mulch last fall. Sitting in the house last winter, I imagined little creatures cozy under that soft cover. I guess we'll have to pull the tomato plants up...and put them in the compost. Anyway, I'm going to think about this when I am out cleaning up for winter. I'll remember the quote...Being too tidy is the eighth deadly sin. Does that go for inside too?
Balisha
7 comments:
Kind of sort of tidy up the gardens ... I let everything die back before I remove it, tho.
We have a huge mess i one garden from the birds that are not neat. I wish only the neat ones came by, chuckle.
Have a beautiful day ~
TTFN ~
Hugs,
Marydon
I usually clean my garden beds up good (all but the leaves which continue to blow in) every Fall but I did leave the coneflowers and some other natives along the woodland bed for the critters this winter. The Goldfinch love the coneflower seed heads. I am finding like you that some things are easier to clean up in the spring. Have a wonderful week!
O, I never do more than a little trimming up in our flower garden at this time of year. I tidy up a little, water regularly and let the birds have it until spring. :))
And, YES to it applying to INSIDE..:)
I know I can longer be real tidy
in this home by the woods.
In the past everything was manicured - not anymore. Do not have the energy and it needs to be natural in this setting.
Good late afternoon, Balisha..
Yes and no to your queston. I went out, watered the patio and did a bit of very light feeding,I'm probably not supposed to..but things are looking bedraggled. Then I began pulling grass..and pulling and pulling..
Finally decided..maybe later..and left.
I do sort of clean up a bit...but not really all that much. Spring is usually the big cleanup time. We were back up to nearly 100 degree's again...too hot to do much.
No little animals here to feed..but..just that one little squirrel...and we just tend to stare at one another.
Hmmm..I hope he is not a terrorist!
Kidding, just kidding! :)
Hugs.
Balisha I love your post about this garden event : )
I too leave a lot for the little creatures .. my husband and I rake some leaves because our neighborhood has a problem with black tar spot with the trees so we pick up what is on the grass but what falls on the garden beds I leave. I have a lot of coneflowers for all the little ones to snack on too : )
Joy
I think we are all in agreement that we do as much as we can manage. I do like to look out at the snowy landscape and not see a bunch of straggley dried things sticking up all over. I do tidy up where I have bulbs planted. I like to see the crocus, tulips, and daffs in a neat garden. So, if the weather cooperates I will be out doing what I can.
Balisha
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