It sounds silly, but September and October are yours truly's favorite months! Everything is green and we still have warmth. The sun brings forth a dry heat with pending wisps of winter and its cold weather to come.

Fall, football, soccer, school, and harvest time. Years ago when our forefathers arranged schedules the schools did as the forefathers wanted and arranged their classes to coincide with the growing season. Parents with children that had farms needed their children to work during the summer in labor-intensive work for little or no wages. When the produce was harvested school was started in the fall.

The school schedule has not really changed much today and we are living with a schedule that was created in the past. When things are accepted over a long period of time, persons being governed by the schedules are reluctant to change.

Farming has changed and is no longer a way of life, however the summer months have not changed nor the harvest time. The school schedule has not changed, although some districts have gone to year around schools.

The garden is changing from summer to fall and it has worked hard to produce, and it now takes a needed break. Sort of like us gardeners. We can take time to enjoy the fruits of our labors and enjoy the cooler nights and the green that we see everywhere, thanks to our late summer rains. You are allowed to feel sad that the summer is gone, but now you can also feel glad for we need the rest.

After you work to make your garden ready for spring, read books about gardening. There is a lot we can learn. I remember with a chuckle the old phrase, "Don't confuse me with the facts. You'd be surprised what we can learn from reading - the big thing is to apply it. All the learning in the world won't help unless we use it!

October Reminders

* Be ready for the first frost

* Thin the seedlings

* Overseed lawns

* Plant spring bulbs

* Don't let weeds go to seed

* Divide perennials