November 2025

Dear Garden Enthusiasts,

 The trees on our property have now lost the last of their leaves. Things are starting to look pretty brown, although the veggie garden still feels lively. Ironic, really, since it feels unseasonably alive because of the seasonal vegetables. The leafy greens and cool loving herbs remain vibrant. The sweet alyssum looks almost out of place, covered in prolific, cheery blooms, as if someone forgot to tell her that lilac isn’t an autumnal hue.

I’ve been clearing out the expired annual plantings little by little, although my garden cleanup stays quite limited. It is a delightfully short to-do list. What looks like mess often holds life. Leaf litter shelters overwintering insects. Hollow stems protect native bees. Striking seed heads remain as a food source for our birds.

So this month, we are giving a nod of appreciation to the hidden relationships that carry our ecosystems through cold weather, focusing on the vegetables that reward us with early spring harvests when planted in the fall, and sharing a few kitchen traditions that help us hold on to the bright flavors of the seasonal garden. 

As we wrap up the year and approach the holiday season, it feels fitting to accept the last gifts from the garden and, with a little care, return the favor by giving it the quiet, protective space it needs.

Here’s to a season of rest, resilience, and small comforts, inside the garden and out. Thank you for being a part of the Gardenwell Community.

With love and gratitude,
Kiera

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