“It was a beautiful bright autumn day, with air like cider and a sky so blue you could drown in it.”
— Diana Gabaldon, Author, Outlander
“Autumn is the season to find contentment at home by paying attention to what we already have.”
— Unknown
So now it is officially fall. A little cooler air shows up now and then along with a few other signs of fall. Football is in full swing, bringing us closer to the couch, the television, and a bowl of popcorn. I dream of burning the burn pile left from last winter and beyond. Also maybe lighting up the chiminea that hasn’t been lit in years. The black cherry trees consistently turn golden and bright red before any other tree. It’s always a welcomed sight, knowing fall really is coming. Flowers in pots and window boxes are every color in the rainbow and that pleases me. The hummingbirds thrive from the nectar in the feeders but also the flowers, especially the Prairie petunias.
The Prairie petunias grow inside the perennial garden as well as leaning against the garage outside wall. The petunias next to the garage are tall and lanky. Often, they lay their lazy selves down and block the doorway. So, one morning I decided to search through the shed for trellis or something to corral the plants and keep them from falling over. We are not hoarders at all but we do hang on to anything that looks like it could be handy for something else. Sam has a real knack for repurposing. A good example would be when he had the old zero turn Dixon lawn mower. The mower needed a muffler. Instead of running to town to buy one he noticed an unused steel dog bowl in the shed and fashioned into a mower muffler.
I enjoy repurposing though I don’t do it as well as Sam. However, searching through the shed for the trellis I did not find, I found three sections of an old fence. This would do right well. I linked the three around the Prairie petunias and propped the fence against the petunias with a large rock. Then I took some twine and joined the three sections together. I thought it would do just fine. As fall ends and winter begins the Prairie petunias will die back and I will remove my makeshift fencing.
It looks like the raccoon population is building up again. If they were not so destructive, they’d be cute. They will attack our tame animals. At the little lake just behind the house there is a deck, a gangplank, and a floating dock. I water plants on the deck and dock. Last week I noticed traces of raccoon droppings on the gangplank. So, I set out a few Havahart traps. Sam looked out the next morning to see one trap tripped and one raccoon high-tailing it off. Another sign of fall.
I am not sure there is anyone that does not like fall- transitioning into less humid air and falling temperatures. There are plenty of fall activities- sports, homecomings, harvest festivals, hayrides, Halloween, bonfires, decorating with pumpkins, apples, golden leaves, hay bales, with maybe a few bodock balls thrown in.
Sam says his favorite time for fishing is in the fall and I can imagine for all the same reasons we all love fall.
Shannon Bardwell is a writer living quietly in the Prairie. Email reaches her at [email protected].
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 42 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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