Putting the Garden to Bed and a Tin Can Herb Garden

It’s time. I saw snowflakes today. The warm weather is finished, and it’s time to put the garden to bed for another year. Last weekend we took advantage of the not freezing weather and did most of the fall jobs. There’s still some to be done. It’s so hard to pack things up, when there’s even a hint of nice afternoon’s left, but the cold air today makes me glad it’s mostly done. We had to put all the fairy gardens from the deck away, and drain the new deck irrigation system. I usually just pull out the spent annuals, and use the soil from the pots to bank up my roses and other plants that need a little extra tlc.

We pulled the drip sprouts off of the irrigation system, and then used a borrowed air compressor to blow any of the water out of the lines so that they don’t freeze and burst.

It seemed successful, guess we’ll know if it went as well as we thought next spring when we hook it up again.

One of the most important jobs at our house is rabbit proofing the yard. Last year we were less than successful and the little critters did a whole lot of damage in just a few weeks before we noticed. So, we broke out our chicken wire for the Japanese maples.

We also tried to block up any little holes or spots where the rabbits might slip in under the fence. We planted a new apple tree. It really is a great time of year to plant. The tree was half price, and the kids were inspired by a lesson at school about Johnny Appleseed. Here’s hoping for some apples next year! We made sure there was bark protector on this tree at rabbit height too.

All our empty pots, and decorations, and the pretty little fountain found their way back to the garage for another winter. It’s like a giant puzzle putting everything away so we can park in the garage again for the winter. We’re getting there, still a bit to do, and the snow tires to get on the car again. Our garden furniture just doesn’t fit in the garage, so my husband manoeuvres some of it under the deck and tarps it, and piles other pieces on the patio and deck and covers tightly with tarps, and bungee cords. Not the prettiest, but it does really make it last longer when you don’t have a place indoors to store it.

I’m not one of those gardeners who cuts everything pack in the fall. The long stems add a little winter interest when you peek outside, and there’s something about cutting away the old in the spring as the new green just starts to appear that appeals to me. I did manage to bring in a few herbs. The rosemary would have died in the cold, and the thyme and oregano are so prolific that a little piece to bring inside won’t be missed.

I saved a few tin cans from making chilli this week, and used them to hold the herbs. I made some simple tags with wood veneer, some twine and a sharpie. I may not be able to keep the herbs alive in the house too long, but I figured anything was a bonus. So, we’ll enjoy them while they last.

With a pretty little tin can herb garden to enjoy when it’s too cold to have herbs outside, life really is a party!

This post is linked up at the Inspiration Gallery, and Tatertots and Jello’s Link Party Palooza.