A Look Back Into my Garden Journal: 2024 October Garden

I was going through my garden journal recently — the same one that, when the fire happened, was tucked inside my garden bag. I had left the bag out in the garden that night because I simply forgot to bring it in. It wasn’t until days later that I found it again, a little weathered but still intact.

While flipping through its pages a few days ago, I came across an entry I had handwritten last October. In the chaos that followed the fire, I completely forgot to post it to the blog. But reading it now brought back such a wave of calm and beauty, reminding me of just how lovely the garden was this time last year.

So, even though it’s a year late, I’ve decided to share it today — partly for closure, and partly to honor the beauty that existed before everything changed. October has always held something magical in the garden. I hope you enjoy this small moment from the past as much as I did.

“The October garden has a unique beauty. It is a blend of fading summer blooms, seed heads, and the first touches of fall. As the growing season winds down, many of my garden favorites are beginning their retreat to prepare for the winter slumber. But some still linger, giving my little garden a burst of color and texture when I least expect it.

Take Cosmos— with their airy stems and delicate petals, continues to dance in the chilled autumn breeze. Though their numbers may be fewer, the late bloomers still hold on, bringing soft shades of pink, white, and magenta into the garden, attracting the last of the bees who are braving the crisp air.

Foxglove is mostly done for the season, and it is leaving behind tall stalks and seed pods. And it gives the garden bed an organic architectural element. I cannot help smiling thinking of their earlier splendor, but also, the seeds I saved, which bring a promise for next year.

Without a doubt, the showstopper this year were the towering sunflowers, now bending under the weight of big fat heads full of ripening seeds. The beautiful golden faces are now darker, and their seeds are feeding the birds that visit in search of food and the bees looking for the last of the nectar. Even as they fade, sunflowers play a vital role, bringing wildlife into the slowing garden.

Another showstopper and new to the little garden is Cleome, or spider flower, with its quirky structure, stands tall despite the cooler temperatures. While nearing the end of its bloom cycle, its vibrant pink and white flowers continue to make an impact, extending summer’s presence just a little longer, which I love.

Borage continues to be the workhorse in the garden. With its blue star-shaped flowers, still dots the garden and truly, at this point, they are out of control. She continues to attract bees even as the season cools, quietly contributing to the fall garden’s charm.

And then, just as most plants are preparing for dormancy, the dahlias make their grand entrance. Hello, gorgeous. After quietly building strength all season, they burst into bloom, giving me a surprise late-season show. Their lush, bold flowers stand in stark contrast to the fading plants around them, offering one last display of vibrant color before the frost. I love how nature works.

October’s garden is a beautiful mix of persistence and grace. While many plants begin to fade, others, like the cosmos and dahlias, offer a final burst of life. The shift in seasons reminds me that there’s still much to appreciate—whether it’s the structural beauty of seed heads or the last blooms of the season. October is not an end, but a transformation, as the garden quietly prepares for its winter rest and to sustain wildlife in winter.”

October 10th, 2024