DAILY DOSE OF SUNSHINE

Fall is here and as the amount of daylight lessens, we find ourselves spending more time indoors.  Researchers have found that during the months of the year when there is decreasing sunlight we produce less serotonin, which helps to elevate our moods.  This helps to explain why many people feel depressed and lethargic during the fall and winter months.  We can increase our levels of serotonin by spending more time outside during these months.  Taking daily walks is the natural way to reduce feelings of depression. (Archives of General Psychiatry, 2008)

FRESH HERBS

There is still time to plan for growing fresh herbs during the winter.  Many of the grocery stores and farmers markets still have fresh potted herbs for sale.  These plants do well on a window sill during the winter months.  Find a south facing table or window ledge that you use to grow herbs during the winter months.  Try growing basil, rosemary, thyme, sage and other herbs that you use in cooking. You will appreciate being able to tend to a small indoor garden and your recipes will also benefit.

PLAN AHEAD

The fall season is a good time to plan for next year’s garden.  As we spend time pruning back the perennials, cleaning up the spent plants and other autumn garden chores, take notice of what did and did not work this season.  Are there some plants that struggled due to a lack of water?  Are some plants too aggressive and spreading too quickly?  Were some plants just placed in the wrong location?  Write these ideas down on a note pad – and hang it in a place where you will see in next spring!  It will help you get a jump start on your garden next spring.

SHARE THE WEALTH

As you think ahead to the garden next year, it is possible to expand the garden space a little more to share with others?  Think about planting some extra vegetables or flowers to donate to a local food bank or homeless shelter.  You will feel good about helping others and they will appreciate the fresh produce and floral arrangements.

CHRYSANTHEMUM’S

We tend to identify Mum’s (Chrysanthemum) as an autumn plant to add to our gardens for fall displays.  The Chinese have been planting it a little longer that us.  They consider this a ‘noble’ plant and have cultivated forms of chrysanthemums for more than twenty-five hundred years.  The current version of the plant (C. X mortifolium) was exhibited in England in 1795.  The plants today are widely used in England and America.  However, in Italy, the flowers are associated with funerals and are not used for any other purpose.

LITTLE SUMMER

October 18^th is the feast day of St. Luke and marks the time of year know as St. Luke’s Little Summer.  This is the name given to the spell of warm weather that may occur around the time of the feast day.

EXTEND THE SEASON

A final thought to the conversations about the fall season – try to find more ways to stay outside.  One of the ways may be to continue to plan bar-b-ques and cookouts.  On a recent visit to one senior community, the staff was hard at work hosting a lunch time ‘manning the grill’ – cooking hot dogs and cheese burgers for the elders of the community (picture below).

A fall cookout in the garden

“He that plants trees loves others besides himself.” – Thomas Fuller (1732)