Trip to Colorado offers colorful view

A recent trip to Colorado gave me time to enjoy the fall colors before a hard freeze zaps the show from shrubbery and trees. The burning bushes were an intence blazing red while many trees dotted the landscape with gold and rust tones. It was breathtaking and we were traveling west, not into the eastern United States known for the fall show of colors.

Arriving at home and looking out my kitchen window, the temperatures had dropped enough while gone to drain the last color from marigolds and zinnias. I knew that the chore of the final garden cleanup was waiting.

The forecast was filled with warmer temperatures for at least three days. I could have talked myself into many other projects, but decided you just never know when Mother Nature will change her mind and sweep in with moisture and colder temperatures.

I like to clean up any growth near the house foundation first, then move out to the flower garden. It's at this time I wonder just why I plant so much. How many pots do I really need on my patio?

It doesn't take too much time of pulling up faded petunias, zinnias and marigolds to start dreaming of my spring plan for the flower beds.

Thinking back to the Colorado color, I really need to seriously consider more shrubbery for Fall color and phasing out the annuals. Although the annuals do provide the quick pop of color I enjoy throughout the growing season.

Cleanup is done and the days are ticking off toward more winter temperatures. Again, the days warmed up and hubby and I took advantage of the pleasant weather to do one of my favorite pre-holiday chores. Not really a chore, as I do enjoy clipping greenery for the Christmas holidays and winter interest in the backyard.

We also share with our two daughters. It seems that we are sharing a piece of our home with them for the winter season. I think they appreciate the touch of mom's and dad's backyard to their outdoor areas.

This year, we unfortunately have a large evergreen to remove from the landscape. On the positive side, the tree is loaded with wonderful small pinecones dripping from the evergreen branches.

The green branches loaded with brown pinecones will add a festive look to planters and other containers. Evergreens come in a variety of needle lengths and shades of green. When placing them together in pots you can add an interesting texture during the winter months.

If you need more sparkle in your pots you can purchase colored sparkling spikes to add to the pots of evergreens, or add shiny balls of red, gold or silver either on spikes or wired into the pots. The choices are endless to decorate the pots.

Strings of lights can be added if you have access to electricity or you can gamble with solar lights and Mother Nature providing enough sun power to charge them.

I'm looking out my kitchen window these waning days of November and see not only a few pumpkins still dotting the landscape but also the bounty of evergreen we harvested from the landscape surrounding our acreage. Here's hoping you can enjoy the warm feelings of the fall and winter holidays approaching, even if it's just a pot filled with evergreens and pinecones.