November has arrived, and I've been spending these last lovely days of autumn making a few changes in the garden.
I've been adding perennial flowers to two of my garden beds. Fall is my favorite time to plant perennials, before the first frost. There is so much less work involved when you aren't trying to keep new plants alive through the heat of summer! The cooler weather gives them time to establish their roots before next year's growing season.
This year I've added Agastache cana, commonly known as Texas hummingbird mint, a favorite of hummingbirds and other pollinators. I've also planted white flowering gaura, with its delicate flowers that seem to float above the garden beds.
Both of these plants bloom from early summer well into fall, and that is exactly what I look for when choosing perennials. As much as I love spring flowers, I've learned that plants with a short spring blooming season just don't earn their keep in my garden! I want flowers that will give us months of color and provide food for the birds and insects throughout the growing season.
I also had a rosebush die this year, which prompted me to remove a few others that had grown much too large for their spaces. I was a little reluctant to take them out, but the moment they were gone, I realized the garden looked lovelier! Sometimes removing a plant is just as important as adding one. The beds feel more open and balanced now, and I'm looking forward to seeing how everything fills in next year.
Out in the pasture, we've had a little change as well. We've sent one of our dairy cows off to spend the month with a bull, leaving Flicka at home without her best friend. She's certainly missing her companion, so daily cow walks and extra visits have been added to our list of things to do. She's getting plenty of attention from all of us until her friend returns!
And finally, November 1st marks the beginning of one of our favorite family traditions, our thankful garland. Every day, one person writes something they are thankful for on a paper leaf, and we string the leaves together above our doorway. As the month goes on, the garland grows longer, filled with all the little and big things we're grateful for.
It's such a simple tradition, but one I love very much. By Thanksgiving, we have a beautiful reminder hanging over our heads of just how much there is to be thankful for.
Happy November from Frémont Farm! xo, Sarah