November 3rd, 2006
rituals
The frost is now heavy in the mornings. It won’t be long until thick ice forms over ponds and puddles. A couple of days ago, I performed the annual Bringing-in-of-the-Birdbath ritual — transporting a wonderful stoneware piece by Doug France of Perth, from the herb garden to the basement for safe storage. Things always seem a little empty once the birdbath comes in for the winter — rather like I’ve removed the heart of the garden.
In addition to bringing in the birdbath, there are a few other autumn rituals around here. We clean out the woodstove pipes and put up reflective markers along the laneway so that the bordering gardens and trees don’t get taken out when the snowplow contractor makes his rounds after each storm. The yard has to be cleaned up, garden hoses stored away, and then an array of winter seed and suet feeders have to be put up around the garden.
Isn’t it odd how these seasonal rituals seem to be increasing in frequency with each passing year? While in the midst of lugging the birdbath downstairs, I’m thinking that it doesn’t seem like a year since the last time I did this. But then, if time is speeding up, why does winter seem to last forever?
Do you have an autumn ritual? Tasks that need to be done? Places you like to go, or things you like to do before the snow flies (that’s assuming it snows where you are)?
Tags: autumn, rituals, Doug France