Every fall I promise myself that I will not do this again. I tell myself tales of a Plant Purge Party in June or future construction of a greenhouse or conservatory. But the time slips by with a shoulder surgery or an injury or other more pressing needs until the weather turns cold and we find ourselves hurridly prepping and moving what seems like hundreds of plants indoors.

I have never counted them. I do give many away, but they just keep thriving and multiplying. I only keep plants that I consider unusual and special. I have inherited a few and feel obligated to keep these orphans. I must be more hard-hearted about my commitments to adoption.

Plants that have been outside cannot be hauled in without preparation. Many must be trimmed. All pots must be flooded to encourage summer residents to move elsewhere. This includes insects, worms, lizards, snakes and maybe a sleepy toad.

Schlumbergeras/ Christmas cacti have spent the summer under the camellia in partial shade. They get one last stinky feeding of a recipe I got from another blogger. This process did not go as planned this year. I have not spent much time on the lower level due to my new and damaged hips. When I began prepping my collection, big stems plopped out of the pots with no roots. The poor things had dried out and let go like a good cactus does when it needs to move on.

So now I am rearranging and preening all plants again inside. They must be turned and rotated so they will not get misshapen. They must take turns in the sunny spots. Gardening may have slowed down outside, but inside it keeps going until spring.

Do not mention the dahlias… I keep promising myself I will leave them out and just mulch them. I always chicken out with my favorites. That is a whole different job.

I hope I will start keeping promises I make to myself for my own good. I am getting too old to be a pleaser and over-achiever.

FLOW in fall