It seems to me that September this year in Saskatoon has
been unusually green even into the end of the month. There are a number of
factors that cause deciduous trees to change colour, including shorter days and
longer nights, colder temperatures, soil moisture and sunlight. We had a very
hot summer and recent weather hasn’t been cold enough to start the colour
changes, though we also haven’t had much rain. Nature can still be mysterious.
I may have to cut my grass once more and I’ve still got
annuals blooming this year. My garden notebook from the past shows the variety
in the season over a number of years, and it seems that we have had long falls
before. Still, I remember snow and frost in September, though I’m glad to see
that holding off this year,
Sept. 6, 1998
I’ve been preparing for spring by taking out some more grass
at the back and planting pink tulips in front of the anemones, and a couple of
white iris in front of the chrysanthemums.
Sept. 14, 1999
I have brought in all my tomatoes, left out carrots, beets,
some lettuce and peppers. Will see how they do.
Sept. 16, 2000
Yesterday and today were incredible days for September –
hot, sunny, no wind. Sat in the yard a lot and just basked in it.
Oct. 14, 2001
Dug the last of my carrots, drained the hoses and cleaned up
the yard a bit. My pink chrysanthemums are blooming in gay profusion in the
back yard. (These have since died out, but I miss them. Have to look for more
in 2018).
Sept. 21, 2002
A long fall – still have roses blooming, cosmos, golden
Marguerite, and delphiniums for the second time.
Sept. 15, 2003
Cut some lavender, which is blooming for the first time
ever.
Oct. 9, 2004
Malva still blooming, chrysanthemums in full flood with
butterflies, white delphiniums having a second bloom.
