Jack Frost is coming
A chilly but fiery late October sunrise over the xeric garden at illahe
As the calendar flips to late autumn and the leaves begin their fiery transformation, there's a certain magic in the air that heralds the arrival of the first frost. It's a time when the world takes on a crisp, enchanting beauty, and we're reminded of Jack Frost's delicate touch.
The arrival of the first frost is a momentous occasion in the natural world. It's a signal that winter is slowly but surely creeping in, blanketing the landscape with a glistening layer of ice crystals. The first frost can occur as early as late September in some regions, but here at illahe typically graces us with its presence in late October and occasionally early November. As the temperatures drop, there's an almost palpable anticipation in the air, signaling that Jack Frost is on his way.
Jack Frost is a mythical character deeply ingrained in the folklore of many cultures. He's often depicted as a mischievous sprite who personifies winter's icy charm. In some traditions, he's a friendly figure who paints intricate frost patterns on windows and landscapes with a single touch. In others, he's a trickster who nips at your nose and toes, reminding us to bundle up and stay warm. Here he graces the pumpkins with a sheen and the grass with an audible crunch.
Jack Frost is the embodiment of the frosty beauty that transforms the world when the first chill of winter arrives. His touch is gentle, yet it leaves a mark that we can't help but admire. He's a reminder of the delicate balance between the harshness of winter and the captivating allure of the season
The weathermen say that Jack Frost will be here by the weekend. The end of the growing season for tomatoes and peppers is just the beginning for some of the treasures in the bulb house! The fall bloomers are finishing up and the winter blooming Narcissus are starting to come up! Soon it will be seed sowing season and the anticipation of another season will begin all over.
The first frost is almost always on Halloween here, but I remember not too long ago and I believe it was an El Nino year, we didn’t close out the growing season until November 15th. It is kind of fun to track these things from year to year and note the differences. This year the fall colors have been great, we have had some rain but it has been punctuated by stretches of dry, cool crisp weather that just screams autumn.
If you are somewhere that frost doesn’t threaten your growing season, I have added a few plants to the online catalog and am working hard to get the rest of the inventory updated. It’s quite the process doing the website stuff, but as we head into the cooler wetter months I should hope to have plenty of time for that work.
I’ll note the actual first frost here as I always do in this psuedo garden journal. In the meantime I’ll keep adding plants to the catalog, working on the winterization of the nursery and continued propagation.
Cheers, the closing out of another ‘Growing Season’
Mark