Closed for Winter

We closed the gardens this weekend, ending a weird 2020 growing season.

Plants were given away to gardener friends,

"You're more than welcome--Enjoy!"

and others were simply mowed down.

"There. We don't have to worry about those anymore."

Supermarket lavender endured freakish, late-spring freezes to return 

as small bushes, while old standby garden 

staples like peonies and hydrangeas barely ducked in to say hello. 

The deer used our side garden bed as their favorite midnight

buffet, preventing a single Fried Bananas hosta bloom, 

but the hummingbirds and zinnias were constant summertime companions.

And now ... tulips.

Little bundles of hope, drop-shaped packages of potential,

half-priced harbingers of better days on the way.

The garden beds may look bare and unpopulated, but 

three varieties of hopeful tulips have only just begun their work. 

By Easter 2021, there will be some beautiful surprises!

Purple and white ornamental kale paired with sap-sticky pinecones 

will see my container gardens through the winter. 

And my four hooligans perched on the picnic table will witness 

fall's decline as winter creeps in.

These couldn't be cuter--I wonder why the deer 

didn't gobble these tasty appetizers.