From the fading Winter garden

Yesterday was cold and dry, chilly rather than freezing. The kind of Winter day when it is still and quiet in the garden without a breeze to rustle the fallen leaves. I bundled up in sweater and scarf, thick socks and tall boots. Wrapped white lights around the front porch railing, then took a break, sipping hot chocolate while watching a bold woodpecker fly back and forth to the feeder for supper. DH raked........and raked, for several hours.

It was hovering around freezing at 5 PM when dusk settled over us like a pale blanket as we pulled the last leaves down to join the mountain at the curb. I'd pruned back some frost-damaged plants, then cut the last hydrangeas to dry, and together we hauled those leaves, brown, crinkled, and dried to such a lightness they can dance in a breeze.

I leaned over the back fence and snipped the pyracantha berries -planted in my neighbor's garden - he doesn't mind. Added trailing variegated ivy from one of the many urns around my garden. Nature now fills the bare spaces around the house.

We will soon be having some large trees removed because they are dangerous. I have a nice feeling that this will mean a much smaller mountain of leaves next year.............hopefully more time sipping hot chocolate and less raking on these cold Winter days.