Yesterday I raked out the whole front length of neglected rock garden along the fence, except for the remaining silphium (cup plant) stalks that haven’t keeled over yet.  I’m trying to keep a balance between leaving things alone for critters to overwinter in, and prepping the area for native flower seeds that I’m going to introduce to stratify over winter.  Once everything is seeded, I can go ahead and let leaves naturally mulch all the beds.

I also raked out the two raised beds in the back along the same fence.  I’m not sure yet what to use them for this time around, since the pumpkins, melons, etc. didn’t work out there.  For now I’ll just mulch them with leaves and wood chips to break down over winter.  (Just thinking out loud here; my strategies change every five minutes.  It’s the middle of the night, and playing garden chess in my mind is what I do for fun.)

It may not look like it to an outsider, that is, someone who doesn’t see the whole underground picture, but with a little “help” from me, our small part of the landscape will hopefully become even more attractive and beneficial to more native pollinators and wildlife that are essential to balance the whole ecosystem which includes us.  Another small island of life in a barren manicured wasteland of exotic invasives, toxic chemicals, and development.  If you think I’m exaggerating, fact-check me.  It may not change the eventual destruction of our planet, but it’s what I can do right now.  Oct. 1, and still summery.