There is definitely frost on the pumpkin on this All Hallows Eve morning here in the Carondelet Garden.  The weather folks have been nailing the forecast these past few days.  The freeze has arrived and, for once, this old gardener was mostly prepared.

Today is a fun day for the #supercoololdpeople as we head out to pick up one of our favorite people in the whole world for a day of adventure and fun.  Heading to the St. Louis Aquarium and Wheel and then to Boo at the Zoo.  A fun day all around.

Here's to a Happy and Safe Halloween everyone.  Be good and be kind to yourself and others as you journey about on this All Hallows Eve.  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

Baby, it's cold outside in the Carondelet Garden on this last Monday of October.  The freeze that we have been expecting happened as predicted.  It was cold and it's going to be cold again tonight and tomorrow night.  It looks like the changeover is really starting to happen.  

That big, old hydrangea put up quite a fight a few weeks ago but this is the result.  It is finally gone, and we have a large open space to contemplate over the Winter.  One of the great graces of growing older is that I can begin to let go of things without guilt. Growing older is truly about letting go of the unnecessary baggage so that we are prepared for what comes next. 

October is coming to an end and November is right around the corner which is the beginning of the holiday season for many of us.  It's a time of joy and celebration but also a time of mystery and sadness for so many of us.  We have lost so many in November over the years.  The memories bring comfort but also a bit of melancholy to the season.  

Be good and be kind to those around you in this Thin Season. While many are in the mood to celebrate and be merry.  Many others are hurting and feeling a bit lost.  Be kind.  Be kind to yourself as well.  We all deserve a bit of kindness, especially right now.  The sun is shining, and the air is brisk.  A good day for another cup of coffee and crossword puzzle.  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

It's a lovely morning here in the Carondelet Garden.  The skies are cloudy, and the temperatures are in the upper 60s.  Fall is in the air and frost is in the forecast.  There's a change in the weather to be sure.

It's the time to make sure your perennials and trees have a good drink of water.  Today would be a great day to empty those watering hoses and coil them up while they are still flexible.  I've already unhooked mine from the waterspout and covered the outside connection with a bit of insulation for the cold months of Winter yet to come.  Hello Fall! 
 
Today feels a bit like borrowed time.  We know the heavy frosts are coming any day, so these days in the garden are precious as gold.  The leaves are definitely showing their colors.  It's a stunning sight to see the bursts of colors floating down like rain.  You can feel Autumn in the evenings now.  There is a hint of something special hanging in the evening air.  

I've spoken of this time of year as being a Thin Time and I believe it is.  You feel the closeness of heaven and earth in late October and early November.  Memories and dreams feel more alive to this old gardener.  Maybe I'm just an old man but it does remind us that we are never truly alone.  Comfort and Grace when we need it the most.

There's a bit of work to be done on this last Friday in October.  A few last-minute chores to accomplish before the big changes take place.  We've been preparing for this moment.  I think we are almost ready.  Be good to yourself and kind to others on this last weekend of October.  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

It's a cloudy, mild morning here in the Carondelet Garden in South Saint Louis.  We had a few showers yesterday and overnight but look forward to some more as the day continues.  We are still quite dry and the heavenly moisture is most welcome here in Missouri.

We had a fun day @mobotgarden yesterday listening to a lovely talk on "Gardening Can Be Murder."  So many murder mysteries were set in and around gardens and gardening.  Take a look at your tool box some time and you can easily imagine death and mayhem!

Another busy day for the #supercoololdpeople.  Heading out to help with the Rotary Young Citizens program this afternoon.  Then haircuts and finally "Thirsty Thursday" happy hour.  A full day of fun and celebration.

Be good and be kind to yourself and others as you travel about this Ordinary Thursday in October.  Can you believe it is the last Thursday in October?  Make it a good day!  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

It's raining here in the Carondelet Garden on this cloudy Wednesday morning.  We NEED the moisture.  It is such a welcome gift right now.  The forecast looks like the rains will move in and out over the next several days bringing the relief we are so desperate for.  Grace in the form of liquid sunshine.

The #supercoololdcouple have a busy day ahead of them.  Several errands and a lecture to attend later this morning.  We never sit idle for long, that is for sure.

Grateful for the rains. Grateful for a beautiful Wednesday morning. Grateful for the grace given to me, freely given, and underserved.  Be good and be kind to yourself this humpday in October.  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

The skies are cloudy above the Carondelet Garden this Tuesday morning.  It's going to be a warm one today with highs in the low 80s later this afternoon.  The forecast is calling for some rain over the next few days.  I am hopeful!  We need the heavenly moisture.  We have been unusually dry this Fall season.  

I mow the grass this time of year until it is too wet to do so.  I try to leave the plants in the borders and try not to cut things back unless it is in very bad shape because the birds and other little critters love the seedheads.  The slightly unsightly decline is simply part of the beauty to this old gardener.  There will be plenty of time come this Spring to spruce things up a bit.  Until then, feast away my wildlife friends!

Fall is a wonderful time to recognize the gifts given to us every single day.  It is a time to be thankful, more grateful for the abundance we have.  It is a time to savor what happens in this simple, ordinary life in such a way that the ordinary becomes extraordinary!  One thing I've learned is that grateful people are, by and large, happier people.  The gift of gratitude.  A bit of grace on this Tuesday morning.

It's a good day to say thank you to someone who matters.  Let someone know that you see them and are thankful for them in your life.  Be good and be kind on this Tuesday in October.  I saw a woman with a shirt on yesterday that read:  HUMAN KIND: Be both!  Amen!  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

It's a brisk, cool start to the day here in the Carondelet Garden in South Saint Louis.  The skies are sunny with bright, blue skies and a few puffy, white clouds thrown in for visual interest.  It looks to be a stunning Fall Day with highs in the mid to upper 70s. 

The bright red bird feeder out in the back garden hanging on our Dogwood tree has been getting a lot of action these past few days.  I guess I really am an old man gardener as I can spend a ridiculous amount of time just watching the birds flying in and out.  You know it's official when you start buying books to identify the birds in your backyard.  

We had a wonderful weekend with our visit to the #SLSO this past weekend.  A glorious concert featuring Mendelsohn's 'Scottish' symphony.  Incredible performance from the symphony and a tour de force by the amazing Elim Chin as conductor.  

​Here's to a new week filled with wonder and grace.  Be good and be kind to yourself and others as you travel about.  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

The skies are sunny in the Carondelet Garden on this Friday morning in October.  The rest of the day looks to be amazing with highs in the low 70s.  What a perfect day to finish up some gardening chores on this beautiful Fall Day.

The Mums that I had to move a few weeks ago are looking amazing.  I was a little worried about them because of the timing of the move and, honestly, not sure where I was going to put them.  They seem to love it and I love seeing the rust-colored blossoms every morning on my walkabout through the garden.

It's Friday folks.  Weekend eve has arrived.  Here's to a beautiful week and the anticipation of a wonderful weekend.  Be good and be kind to yourself and others as you enjoy this amazing Fall season.  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.
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It's a cloudy morning here in the Carondelet Garden on this Ordinary Thursday in October.  The clouds should thin out later this morning and a bit of sunshine for the afternoon hours with highs close to 70 degrees.  A perfect Fall Day in South Saint Louis.  

The mulching of the side garden is finished and looking quite good.  Pretty happy with the final result.  We thinned the Hostas in the back yard.  This Hosta patch was put in almost immediately after we first moved in with some transplants from Dr. B's parents' home in Webster Groves.  They have proliferated and they needed to be thinned again.  This happens about every five years or so.  They obviously like it where they are planted.  A lovely reminder and memory of Dr. B's mom and dad and their love of gardening.  

We will finish the mulching project today with the rest of the back garden getting a Winter bed turndown.  Another trip to our friends @greenscapegardens_stl for some more mulch is needed.  I think I need to get a truck!   This trip should do it.  I always think my little urban garden area is so tiny until it's time to mulch then it seems to grow exponentially!

It's a beautiful day.  The coffee is made.  Music is playing on the radio.  The newspapers have arrived so it's time to read a bit, do a few puzzles, and get my head wrapped around the chores for today.  It's a good day for a good day.  Be good and be kind to yourself and others as you head out to confront this Thursday.  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

A cool start to the morning here in the Carondelet Garden as the temperatures struggle to reach the lower 50s.  The skies are blue with a few puffy, white clouds and it looks to be an absolutely stunning day.  The 'Cherokee Chief' Dogwood is letting me know, in no uncertain terms, that Fall has arrived.  The picture doesn't do the red leaves justice.  A glorious site in the back garden to be sure.

We picked up the mulch we needed to finish the side garden yesterday so today is the day.  A bit of work to do but excited to finally get the side beds put under their Winter blanket.  The garlic and shallots are planted in the back bed with one new bed of garlic waiting to plant.  While Fall can seem like the end of the gardening season, for some things it is only the beginning.

What is your favorite kind of garlic to plant and use in the kitchen?  Softneck or Hardneck? Do you have a particular variety that you love?  I tried Music Garlic last year with so-so results.  Inchellium Red is my go-to for this year.  I do love garlic, so any garlic is good garlic for this old gardener.

They say that once gardening takes ahold of you, it won't let you go.  Gardeners hold the very essence of their gardens within their hearts.  Even as Fall sets in with the ending of many of our favorite blooming plants and the coming of the darkness that is the Winter season. our garden is still our place of comfort and nourishment.  The Creator gives us the garden to care for as it cares for us.  Grace, undeserved but welcome!

The mulching, the digging, the planting and adding compost to the beds of garlic, it is an earthy time with those rich aromas that remind you it is Fall.  Falling leaves in a rich assortment of colors add an ethereal beauty to the garden.  It's a thin moment when heaven and earth get really close, and you can almost feel the connection between them.  Fall is a time where a bit of faith and hope is necessary as you plant and pray.  Add a bit of love and life just gets a bit better!