garden reflections | Edible Landscaping Made Easy With Avis Licht

Late Summer Harvest – Enjoying the Fruits of Your Labors – Reflections of a Gardener

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Sep 042012

by Avis Licht – Yesterday was Labor Day, the time we honor all manner of hard working folks. From those who till the earth, to those that sit at desks making society function, it takes a multitude of people to keep the world working. None of us could do it alone, all of us rely on the work of those who came before us.

I hope to leave my little plot of ground better than when I found it. Healthier, more abundant, more beautiful. If you love to garden, and want to learn more, then each of you can do this in your own way and in your own time. I love sharing the information I’ve gathered over the past 40 years, from my teachers, my mistakes and most of all from the garden itself.

Food from the garden is flowing in at the end of summer. We are all so grateful. It tastes so good and there’s plenty to share.

Here comes the squash, heading into the house…

One of my other passions is playing music. I’m lucky to have found a group of musicians of similar inclination that get together weekly. Our motley crew plays for community gatherings, at farmer’s markets, weddings, wakes and at our local saloon. Celtic music and traditional American tunes are what we mostly play. Hoping to get the feet dancing and the smiles beaming, we love to share our tunes.

Here’s what I was doing on Labor Day, playing music at a street festival in Bolinas, California. (I’m the one in the middle playing the mandolin.)

Playing music on Labor Day – Enjoying more fruits of our labor!

Silver Anniversary Jig – This link will let you listen to a tune I wrote for my husband in honor of our 25th wedding anniversary. It’s being played by the wonderful Rodney and Elvie Miller, a father – daughter duo. I hope you enjoy it.

Reflections on the Garden in Winter

Garden Reflections No Responses »

Dec 082011

Red rose in winter

We’ve had frost in the garden the last few mornings, bright sunshine during the day. Different plants are trying to figure out what they’re supposed to be doing. Most of the leaves have fallen off the roses, but still there are a few amazing blooms. Go to sleep or wake up. It’s a confusing time in Northern California for plants.

Short days, long nights, dormancy is tugging at most plants. But already, the narcissus bulbs are shooting their green leaves through the soil and charging into the light.

Here come the narcissus!

The Mexican Mock Orange, Choisya ternata, is in full bloom.

Some plants are happy to bloom in winter

The last few Chrysanthemums in December, will soon go dormant

Above all, the garden is about change. Every plant has its own needs and its own time to grow, bloom, die back and be reborn. We can help it by protecting it from heavy frosts, or strong winds. But in the end, you cannot fool mother nature. She will have her way. Her laws are not ours to change, but to learn about and live with.