Reflecting on the Season: Wins, Challenges, and Savoring the Slower Days
By TigreBlume
TigreBlume garden photo. Courtesy of TigreBlume.
There is a quiet, restorative beauty that settles over the garden at this time of year. I am officially sitting a little under a month out from our anticipated first frost date, and the overall pace in the beds has noticeably slowed down. After months of non-stop indoor seed starting, hardening off, transplanting, and summer maintenance, I am finally taking a breath.
I am loving these slower, less busy days in the garden. I feel like I can finally stand back, take it all in, and really absorb all the sights, colors, and textures without rushing off to the next task.
Woman wearing Garden Clogs (click image for product link), with her feet propped up on an outdoor ottoman. Courtesy of TigreBlume.
While most of the tomato plants are pretty much done for the season at this point, the garden is far from finished. The pepper plants, dahlias, and summer annuals and perennials are still pushing strong. Meanwhile, most of the fall transplants are handling the seasonal weather transition fairly well—though I’m pretty sure I lost a few along the way to those recent chilly nighttime temperatures!
Even with the cooler nights, I’m excited to see what the garden continues to produce over the next month and a half as we finish out the rest of the season.
Looking Ahead: Early Brainstorming & Experiments for Next Season
With things winding down, my mind is naturally starting to wander toward next year. I’m already brainstorming what new plant varieties I want to try my hand at next season!
A few things currently on my wish list and radar include:
Organic Store-Bought Garlic: I’m thinking about experimenting with planting a batch of store-bought garlic before the ground freezes solid to see how it overwinters and performs come spring.
Potatoes & Strawberries: Expanding into new staple crops that bring long-term harvests.
More Succulents: Adding even more texture and low-maintenance greenery to containers.
Finding Gratitude in Every Season
It’s hard to believe we’ve already reached this point in the year. Looking back on all those early months of growing under indoor lights and the long summer days outdoors, I can honestly say I am grateful for every single moment and learned experience.
Peppers harvested from the TigreBlume garden. Courtesy of TigreBlume.
I’ve definitely had my fair share of disappointments and challenges in the garden along the way this year—from unexpected cold snaps to crops that didn't quite perform as planned. But if there is one thing the garden continuously teaches us, it’s resilience.
I want to encourage you to keep pushing forward through those garden disappointments. Challenges don't last forever, and every setback is just data for a better harvest next year. We still have a bit more growing left to do, so let’s finish out the rest of this season strong!
Dinnerplate Dahlia’s harvested from the TigreBlume garden. Courtesy of TigreBlume.
How is your garden transitioning as cold weather approaches? Are you trying any late-fall experiments or already planning for next year? Don’t be shy (this is a safe space). Drop a comment below and let's chat!
