On October 21st, I saw a lone Monarch on some purple asters in our butterfly garden, outside my office window. The poor little guy had missed the caravan with his friends and was all by himself, getting nectar on a warm fall day for his long journey south. Today, I saw him again, sitting on my car basking in the sunlight of an unusually warm November morning. Pretty sure he has no intention of heading south at this point. But seeing this rogue butterfly reminded me that November is a season of thankfulness. I am thankful that Monarch Butterfly populations, which were in steady decline over the last decade, rebounded this year. I'm also thankful that I don't have to migrate the way Monarchs do, buffeted by wind, rain, and car windshields.
For the month of November, I encourage you to sit down and make a list of what you've been thankful for this year. Here's mine:
I'm thankful that we are having a mild fall transition. This kind of climate change is alright.
I'm thankful for the extra hour of sleep I got when Daylight Savings Time ended Halloween weekend.
I'm thankful for 50% off Halloween candy.
I'm thankful for my husband. Especially since he let me rescue a little black kitten that we found trapped in a barrel at the nursery two days before Halloween. He's thankful that it only stayed in our spare room for two days before I found it a home.
I'm thankful we hired a new landscape designer this year, Lynda Lowry, who helped me get through my busiest year since I started at Johnson's Nursery over 7 years ago.
I'm thankful the Milwaukee Brewers season is over. The most hopeful time for a Brewers fan is winter, when we can still believe they might have a winning season.
I'm thankful for Rob Lucas, our Marketing Coordinator, without whom, the Leaf in Brief wouldn't be possible and my Dirt and Quick Tips videos would be glorified selfies.
I'm thankful for the autumnal colors of Sugar Maples, the smell of dried leaves, pots of chili with Packer games, and apple pie in the oven.
I'm thankful for our hard-working landscape crews, because Lord knows, I'd never be able to install all those plants myself.
I'm thankful for customers who are contacting me now about spring projects, so I can perform consultations without danger of frost bite and get site measurements without trudging through snow. They, in turn, will be thankful for their foresight, which will put them on our installation schedule ahead of those who wait to contact me in April.
I'm thankful for Montrose White Calamint, Blue Heaven Little Bluestem Grass, and Summer Peek-a-Boo Allium- my three favorite perennials for a sunny area.
I'm thankful for the August trip to Door County I took with my husband, and that we were finally able to visit and hike around Rock Island State Park.
I'm thankful that the 2015 landscape season is drawing to a close...because I am tired. I am looking forward to working "normal-people" hours and spending more time with friends and family. But as soon as this wish is granted, and I'm tethered to my desk for the next 4 months, I will be eagerly anticipating spring. And I will worry that my winter to-do list won't get done before the snow melts and daffodils are popping up. But...for now...I am thankful.
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