Autumn

The seasons allow us to experience the variety, movement and cyclic qualities of nature. Autumn means cooler, shorter days, heavy dew on the lawn and mornings may take on a serene misty mood.  Autumn is heralded in the garden by the incredible red and yellow leaves of decidious trees. Life forces move downward as the earth breathes in. The seasons are a gift - appreciate them by eating seasonally, planting seasonal indicator plants and having a seasonal festival. Autumn was traditionally the harvest festival. You could invite friends round to nourish the earth with a group stir and spray out of  cow horn manure (500), or you could do something as simple as a table display of autumn leaves and apples. Taking time to consciously connect with the seasons connects us with nature, and so we gain an understanding of life processes at work. Through  that connection we become aware of our responsibility to this land and we become better gardeners too.

To help you work with the seasons we now have a Monthly Gardening Planner. The vegetable planting guide uses four of the climate zones for Australia. Within these zones there will be microclimate variations, so use this as a guide only. Unseasonal weather events, such as unprecedented heat waves and extensive flooding, are becoming more common. There is a need to observe new patterns - record weather data and use your own observations when making gardening decisions.