There’s a group of vultures circling behind the yard… maybe they saw that this weeks post was late, and assumed the worst? Anyway, after a very warm start to October (the first half of the month was the hottest on record in our area, averaging 15 degrees above normal every day), the past few days have been pretty cool and wet. The sun finally peaked out this afternoon for a bit, but the gray clouds look like they will be returning shortly. It feels like it’s already November.

The maples around our neighborhood are finally hitting their peak color for the season, full of flaming oranges and reds. Is there anything as pretty as a sugar maple in its full autumn color? The cottonwoods and a few other trees behind our house are fully bare, and we can see the skyscrapers of Columbus off in the distance again through the treetop branches.

Things are definitely quieting way down. Most of the flowers and plants in our garden are heading back to sleep. There’s a few blanket flowers, mums, and asters still in bloom, and we haven’t yet had a really hard frost. But, the leaves of the peonies and hostas are starting to turn yellow and grow mushy. Once things dry out, I’ll head outside and hack those all back to their bases. Everything else in the yard (including the leaves) will stay put until the springtime.

So, while the garden starts napping, I have some news to share. A few months ago, I applied to the Master Gardener Volunteer program here in my county. A few hundred people applied. The other week, I interviewed with some current volunteers, and then today, I found out that I made the program! Our county has so many people apply each time, but only 50 are accepted. I didn’t know this when I applied, and I really didn’t expect to make it once I found out.

I’m really looking forward to the program. Starting in January, I’ll have classes every week through March, and then a boatload of volunteer hours to make it through. I’ll be paired up with a current Master Gardener mentor to help me traverse the program, and then, if all goes well, by the following January, I’ll have graduated the program. I’m excited to learn more, and to meet other people in the community that love plants as much as I do. I’d apologize, in advance, for all the yammering on I’ll be doing about gardening while in the program, but presumably, in you’re reading this, you’re probably on board already.

Well, that’s all the news from the garden this week. Hopefully, if it’s fall in your area, the sun is out, and the leaves are turning colors. As always, I highly recommend a trip to your local metro park at this time of year to enjoy the changing of the seasons. Happy gardening!