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"Courage" Today I opened wide my eyes,
And stared with wonder and surprise,
To see beneath November skies
An apple blossom peer;
Upon a branch as bleak as night
It gleamed exultant on my sight,
A fairy beacon burning bright
Of hope and cheer. "Alas!" said I, "poor foolish thing,
Have you mistaken this for Spring?
Behold, the thrush has taken wing,
And Winter's near."
Serene it seemed to lift its head:
"The Winter's wrath I do not dread,
Because I am," it proudly said,
"A Pioneer. Excerpt from the poem "Courage" by Robert William Service |
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Steven Nikkila has planted, maintained and photographed gardens and landscapes since 1983. His photographs illustrate many books, magazines, newspapers and catalogues. Steven has taught courses on horticultural photography and many other topics. He is co-owner of Perennial Favorites, a garden and landscape design firm, with his wife Janet Macunovich. Space is limited! |
It's November! The LTPL Seed Library cabinet is getting a facelift in anticipation of moving to the new library location! The current supply of seeds will still be available at the seed library area. Please mark how many packets you take on the clipboard. The mission of the seed library is to promote gardening and encourage sustainability through seed saving. The seeds are available at no cost to you. Although it is not required, we hope that you will attempt to save seeds from your crops and return them to the seed library to help keep it self-sustaining. To use the seed library, simply make your selections and log your initials and number of packets taken on the clipboard. The clipboard and instructions are on top of the Seed Library cabinet.
Gardening handouts are available at the Seed Library and also on the LTPL Grows Webpage, along with informative videos! |
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In November: - Remove dead plants and diseased material from your garden to prevent pests and diseases from overwintering.
- Apply a layer of mulch to add organic matter, retain moisture, and suppress weeds. Shredded leaves are great for this. Work compost into garden beds.
- If you haven't done so yet, plant garlic and spring-flowering bulbs like tulips and daffodils.
- Plant seeds of native plants and perennials that need a cold period to germinate in the spring.
- Trim back dead or diseased branches from trees and shrubs, but wait until late winter for general pruning chores. Avoid heavy pruning of spring flowering plants to preserve next year’s blooms.
- Clean and store gardening tools, making sure to sharpen blades and oil metal parts to prevent rust.
- Take some time to take pictures and make notes on successes and failures. Begin the plan for next year’s garden layout.
- Continue to harvest late-season crops like kale or Brussels sprouts.
- If you have a pond or fountain, winterize it to prevent damage from freezing temperatures.
- Information and online resources for starting and saving seed can be found on the LTPL Website.
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by Gena Hamshaw
Over 80 delicious meals made from vegetables you can grow yourself! Economical and nourishing, this is a step toward greater self-sufficiency. |
Learn to make wise choices in plant choice and water distribution.
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by Rosanna Morris
Learn the art of linocutting and printing botanical relief prints on paper and fabric, as well as foraging for your own pigments. |
Michigan Gardener Magazine no longer publishes a print magazine. You can still visit the Michigan Gardener website for occasional new articles and the calendar, and browse through digital back issues of the print magazine and newsletters. |
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Find more information on LTPL Grows and other resources! |
Visit and "like" for gardening news, tips and upcoming events. |
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