Sunday, November 7, 2010

Weekend Clean Up for Mosaic Monday

I recently made a presentation on “Putting the Garden to Bed” in which I told the audience that I basically do nothing when I clean up the garden for the winter.   But,  it took me over an hour to tell them that and the presentation was just an overview of what I do.  As a rule I leave pretty much everything to either compost away naturally or feed the birds with the seed-heads left on the plants.  Diseased debris is another issue.   This weekend my husband and I cleaned up the pond, took the pump out and put the bubbler in for the winter.  We noticed that we went from 4 fish to approximately 20 that I counted in it today.  I don’t know where the frogs went but if they are at the bottom I hope they survive to entertain us again next year. 
Clean up mosiac
I took the camera out to capture anything that fit the mood of the day.   I found a seed head of an Echinacea or Coneflower with backlighting, the plumes of Solidago or Goldenrod looking quite ghostly, an annual snapdragon that is valiantly fighting to stay alive in the cool nights, a little garden gnome I painted many years ago and the containers that held the fall Chrysanthemums.  I need to get back out there and finish raking the leaves up to add to the flowerbeds.   I am joining Mary for Mosaic Monday.   I hope to see you there too.    Have a great week.   Valerie 

30 comments:

A Garden of Threads said...

Hi Val, You have busy cleaning up for the winter. Love the Solidago shot in the wonderful mosaic. Take care, Jen.

Mary Lou said...

Great photos. thanks for your visit. I'm catching up. I hope to spend all winter catching up on blogs I love and you're one of them.

EG CameraGirl said...

You created a great mosaic, Valerie!

Snap said...

We did some clean up this weekend also. You've been busy. Love the gnome! Every garden should have one standing guard. :D :D :D

Mary said...

I'm glad to hear that someone else leaves things to compost in the garden, too. :) Love the shot of goldenrod!

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

So much to do this time of year! We have a tiny pond that my husband empties each fall. Our 10 gold fish don't increase in number just size. From about 2-inches to about 6-7-inches. He takes them to a local pond and gets new ones each spring. I have a photo that I will try and post.

Carol said...

Pretty mosaic! Love your garden gnome :)

Sue McPeak said...

Your after clean up Photo Shoot sure turned out a neat mosaic for this Monday. I did the same...shot some photos after my husband did some clean out. Kinda neat how stacked pots, rakes and other tools make for some good compositions.

Lori E said...

It is amazing to me what is still blooming here as well. We have had the most amazing weather but it comes with a warning about the severe winter we are supposed to get.

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

My garden is fading fast but my herbs are still growing well so I may leave everything be until after our Thanksgiving. Your pond fish were productive! I hope they all survive the winter.
Happy Mosaic Monday!

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

That's good Val, that it took you an hour to tell a group you do nothing for putting the garden to bed for winter.
Amazing how we've been conditioned to do so much in fall when we never really had to.
Judith

ellen b. said...

Sounds like you have been very busy in the garden. Have a good week!

Lana G! said...

I like your mood! Great shots!

Ebie said...

I love the style of your mosaic! The gnome is a must in every garden, it is so cute!

Anja said...

Dear Valerie, your mosaic shows very good the mood of this cleaning up the garden before wintertime. We can have now a little bit a rest from it and looking forward for all the bulbs coming up in springtime. Anja

Pondside said...

What a beautiful mosaic of end-of-the-year shots. I follow your philosophy, but it is hard to find enough leaves here - I have to beg them from friends in town.
I enjoyed your Niagara on the Lake post - it's one of my favorite towns and I've gone out to the Shaw several times when a sister or sister-in-law has directed a show there or had a work performed. It's my ideal town!

Georgianna said...

I'm very interested to hear you don't do anything to clean up for the winter. We have been out the last two days but have lots more to do. Planting and leaf raking and weeding, mostly. But we missed doing anything last year as we were away and it always bugged me this year! It got so overgrown. So, we have a few more weeks to get things ship shape. And I hope we can put a pond in next year. Have a great week, Val!

Custom Comforts said...

Cleaning out the gardens for winter is always such a sad time, but then I am usually ready for a rest from yardwork myself, so it is with mixed feelings that I put my gardens to bed.
Lovely last flowers and photos are especially treasured. Yours are beautiful!
Cindy

Suzy said...

Lots to do getting the beds ready for winter...tomorrow is my last garden day...beautiful mosaic!

Cass @ That Old House said...

I like to leave seed heads and some "cover" for the birds over the winter. I love how our big Sedum plants looks over the winter, with ghostly blooms sticking out, frosted over.

That's one brave little snapdragon you've got; how precious!
Cass

Rettabug said...

I need to remember my good camera more often, Valerie! You captured some lovely photos.
I would love to see your white Christmas cactus when it blooms. I don't think I've ever seen a white one before!

Icy BC said...

Well, that is a beautiful mosaic, and yes all in its natural world..

My name is Riet said...

Hi You must have been busy with your garden . I love your mosaic

Unknown said...

Just a note to say thanks for your comments on my blog...
You made a pretty mosaic for Monday and it looks like you are one busy lady.
glenda

The Gathering Place said...

I need your tutorial for cleaning up the yard! Nice mosaic.

Rajesh said...

Interesting post and mosaic.

My Cozy Corner said...

Good Morning
I have found another gardener. I love your blog. Something about the earth that is so wonderful. The beauty of the changing colors. Awesome. Thanks for visiting My Cozy Corner.
xo
Betty

Maia T said...

At the and, doing nothing in the garden means quite a lot.
Your mosaic is lovely, there still are pretty things to photograph in the late autumn garden.
Thanks for stopping by.

Betty Jo said...

Your mosaic is beautiful and I love the stacked photo presentation. So glad you're playing with textures too. It can be addictive though, so watch out!! ♥

Lona said...

Hi Valerie. This is a busy time of the year to hurry and get all of those Fall jobs done before we get hit with full blown winter cold.
Your mosaic is so pretty with the Fall textures but you do have to watch those gnomes you know. LOL!

Hoping You Have a Blessed Easter