Autumn Joy Part 2

It was hard to believe our protracted autumn could ever end. I was so enjoying the unseasonably warm weather.

I was late planting bulbs last year, so this year I planted them early, in October. Alas, due to the warm weather, they sprouted! Sigh. Let's see what happens in the spring...

But the signs of impending autumn were all around. The tree shed its leaves...

 The leggy chrysanthemum finally bloomed (a holdover from last autumn that survived the winter!)

And the flame tree (or whatever it's called) finally stopped moping, and sprang into action with some red foliage, like the rest of its buddies in the neighborhood had already done some weeks previously.

Some people speak of "putting the garden to bed in autumn" by hacking down all the foliage and leaving the beds bare. Prevents bugs from overwintering,  and less cleanup to do in spring.

Others say to leave everything be! Most bugs are beneficial to the garden, plants can use the extra insulation to keep them during cool thaws, and the decomposing leaves provide beneficial nutrients to the plant's roots. As well, leaving the plant foliage around all winter can provide seeds for birds, and add "visual interest" in the winter when the snow falls on it.

As a naturally lazy gardener, the latter approach appeals to me very much! So I left everything in, just removing the bamboo stakes from the sunflowers. I dumped leaves on the flowerbeds to insulate them, and gaily left the garden to its own devices.

Nature is far more experienced at "putting the garden to bed" than I ever will be!