My garden has turned the corner into fall. I'm settling back to think about what worked and what didn't and have come to the realization I sorely need a 'yard worker' of some sort for next season. I'm really just not interested in heavy digging and would love to have someone pick up after my weedings, do the weedwacking, pressure washing, etc. We shall see. Meanwhile, I'm busy (kind of) cutting spent plants back to the ground and getting ready to add a winter mulch of chopped leaves. Perhaps plant more bulbs, every spring I wish I had more. I love the colors of fall - so many golds, red, oranges, and yellows that all mesh well together. Couple of fall photos from years prior:

I am so feeling the same Deb. I can keep up as long as life goes along smoothly, and every one stays healthy. I worked so hard in the gardens this year, and they really looked nice. Brother up in Ballard has been battling Cancer for years. Late summer he began to loose the fight. Being gone to be with him a few times a week, working; and the experience itself; I never even thought about the yard againm, until we drove home this afternoon, and I got a glimps from the car. All that hard work is barely visible. Life often predicts how lovely my garden can be. It would be just heaven to give a great gardener a fee, and finish things up for winter.

Laurie, sorry to hear about your brother, and wishing him peace in his struggles. Here's my read on neglected gardens - whatever you CAN get done is positive and will reward you, sometimes unexpectedly (e.g., a full flush of bloom sprouting through the weeds). Rather than being overwhelmed by what you can't or haven't accomplished, celebrate the tenacity of plants that succeed despite all odds. Godspeed to you and your family.

I always get hit with the fall cleaning bug rather than spring. Yesterday I cleaned out the 'funk room' aka garden corner in our barn. Shop-vac'd it all, found the floor again, gave away a ton of excess empty pots to a fellow gardener, and put a bunch of random stuff at the end of the driveway for free. Tossed the supplements (bone meal, kelp, fertilizers, etc.) into a spreader and treated the lawn to a end-of-season cocktail -- all the cardboard containers were growing hair and full of holes and bugs. Clean sweep. Felt great!

Nice way to start fall.

Reminder: go through all the notes you may have taken during the growing season of things to divide, move, or whatever. I just read through mine and am pumped to get out there and do some changes I will enjoy come spring.

I cannot tell you how much this does for me when my life gets beyond busy. I would have let this get right away from me. Thanks Deb. Have fun. Can't wait to see your changes.