Mother Nature has just loved messing with me this month. Saturday was supposed to be sunny and warm – likely the last warm day of the year. I still had a handful of things to get done in the yard, so it seemed like dear Mother was going to help me out for once.

But never believe the weather reports – especially here, where, as Dave has frequently noted, the weather changes every five minutes.

It was not warm, it was not sunny, it was barely even dry. Thankfully, the little rain that swept through kept mostly to a fine mist, and those things in the yard still had to be done so I got to it.

Naturally, I had some “help”.

Our first task was chopping down several of the dead perrenials – mostly in the catio yard. I tend to leave a lot of the seed heads at the end of the season for the birds – especially the coneflowers.

They are a favourite snack of the Finches. You can see on the right, they’ve already been munching away. But attracting them with such deliciousness INSIDE the catio yard is just cruel. We already had a couple Junco fatalities in our first winter, and I’d prefer no repeats. Especially with the addition of Mr. Ginger Murdermitts. He was hard enough on the butterflies – I don’t want him getting a taste for Finch.

Once all the chopping was done, I got the last of the garden ornaments away for the winter.

These could winter outside, but putting them away will just keep them nicer for longer. I did have to go digging for all those little mushrooms though – they were in the woodland garden under the maple. And it’s been busy dropping a nice amount of mulch in the area.

I wish the Norway maple turned a nicer colour in the fall – but those gorgeous purple leaves just turn mostly brown and dry and drop to the ground. I don’t bother cleaning them up until Spring – they don’t fall anywhere they will cause an issue, and they create a nice bit of winter habitat for moths, frogs, toads, fireflies and all manner of little creatures.

There are other creatures playing in the leaves too.

Fryburger is a daily (multiple times some days) visitor now. Though this is the first time I’ve seen him in the tree. He had no problem getting back down so I guess I don’t need to worry too much about it.

He had a good roll in the leaves, got a little pet, snacked on some catnip, then headed on his way.

I had a little snack break myself, and took a little tour around what was left of the garden. There are still some blooms left, but it won’t be long before they are no more.

The Clematis have been an absolute delight this year. After years of killing them at the townhouse, I finally have them growing here – and blooming so well – even after they shouldn’t be blooming any more.

Though there are quite a few buds out there still, these will likely be the last roses of the year. Caroline de Monaco on the left, and Good as Gold on the right. It was a tough year for the roses. I still got many blooms, though not as many as I would have liked.

It was a fabulous year for foxglove, and next year is already shaping up to be even better. All those little seedlings I transplanted around the Holly Bush have thrived. They should put on quite the show next summer.

And the Toad Lilies will continue to delight until we get as good, hard frost. That probably won’t be far off, but I will enjoy each bloom as long as I can.

At least I have my glorious burning bush to keep me warm when things get cold and frosty!!!