October
With apologies to the Sound of Music: What do you do about a month called October? It turns out October is a very busy time of year around the world and mostly the observances designated for the month are cheerful. It is when our Canadian neighbors celebrate their Thanksgiving and Australians change their clocks for daylight savings. October 12 is World Egg Day (who knew) and October 27 is Make a Difference Day. There is a lot more going on but best of all October is designated as pizza month.
October is bubbling over at the Dunn as well and we are seeing the fall colors creep around the garden. My personal favorite is an enkianthus bush at the corner of Ed’s Lawn by the driveway. It sits quietly across the whole summer, a bland wallflower green, but busts out in the fall into a flaming red. What happened to you, I always want to ask both grateful and surprised each year when I see it.
Tour season lasts till the end of October and guests are welcome to enjoy all the colors and changes that are part of a garden with a docent. If something more casual appeals, as a member you can bring three others on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10:00-1:00 and wander in the magic of a garden within the magic of a friendship.
October has been a month of reckoning as well as anticipating the end of season 2018. We have had an arborist, Tom Quigly looking at the historic trees on the property and he has submitted his findings as to their health and sustainability. Mostly it is good news but we will lose a friend or two at some point. The Acer saccharin that looks over the tennis court is, sadly, at the end of its time and will have to come down.
Still, as sad as that news is there is always pizza to enjoy in October and the thought that on the 27th you could show the world you can make a difference.
As it happens, supporters of the garden could make a difference before the 27th– since we have three events that you may enjoy coming up in quick succession and we hope you will consider them.
October 21 is the Fall Foliage Festival during which the leaves can be admired but if you have an active bent you can bowl pumpkins with your kids instead. This event is free.
October 24 Jennifer Carlson is offering one of her delicious and interesting classes, this time the focus is on Japanese floral design – fee includes a Japanese inspired lunch.
October 25 there is a talk offered by Beth Weir on New Zealand gardens. Guests will learn why those three little islands that make up the country are a diversity hotspot among other offerings.
So the end of October in the Dunn is busy. Maybe next year we should take account of this and observe some of the earlier celebrations instead. To this end I am asking if anyone would like to celebrate World Egg Day on the 12th at the Dunn. If there is overwhelming support we will come up with something in 2019.
Happy October everyone.
