It happened again, the unpredictableness of life, and the time to let things go. An early snowstorm came blustering through Northern Colorado this year on October 10th. Since we moved here, we have had two years of snow starting around Halloween, (not too bad), and then two years of snow before October 15th. I’m never quite sure I am ready for early snow because, in my mind, snow signals winter, not autumn.
Thankfully, our area received plenty of warning. Our local gardeners, CSA owners, and homesteaders were scurrying about harvesting fruits and vegetables, covering pumpkins and other vine crops. All were hoping the weather didn’t stay below 32 degrees for too long. The bonus though? There was an amazing array of produce at this weekend’s farmers’ markets. 
But, how do we get through the unpredictable and unsteady things of life?
As we all prepped, my friends were talking about covering and harvesting non-cold hardy plants, bringing in pots, or just letting things go. Coming from Houston, I had and still have a bit of anxiety about experiencing four real seasons, a very short growing season, and deciding when to just to let things go. This year, in particular, was difficult. We had a long cool Spring, late May snows, delayed warming of anything until mid-June, and the piece de resistance, a huge hailstorm in July causing a great deal of damage to roofs and plants. So, we just put on sweaters and kept going, enjoying the sunshine and snow-capped mountains that lasted through August. All things were still better than Houston floodwaters lapping at the front door or the tragedy of Nebraska this last spring.
By October, my patio pots were finally perking up from the hailstorms and looking quite good. Then, unbelievably, we had to gear up for another early snow. To prep my bees for the cold and snow, I removed the liquid feeders and closed the entrance for a couple of days until temps warmed up again to above 50. I also harvested fennel pollen since the bee girls would not be able to forage it after the snow. I cut the last of the lavender and trimmed sage for a yummy, soulful autumn dinner.
The cold front was rapidly moving through Wednesday afternoon, and I just wasn’t sure I wanted to lug all the pots with annuals into the house. I also wasn’t sure I wanted to continue to lug them in and out for another couple of weeks, soulfully praying for added beauty during the fall. (Like autumn leaves aren’t beautiful enough!). So I do what any socially-connected person would do. I texted my friend, Jan.
Me: “I can’t get motivated to bring my potted plants in.” ☹
The phone rang. It was Jan. “Some things deserve a phone call,” she said. Having lived in Alaska, Texas, and various parts of the world, she has a great grasp of what is important. Her words of wisdom are paraphrased below.
“Sometimes you just have to let things go. It’s fall. Say goodbye to summer. It was great. You want fall flowers for fall. Go out and cut the most beautiful of the summer flowers and make some arrangements. Save the chrysanthemums if you can, because they are cool, autumn flowers and they will give you color for a few more weeks and look nice with the autumn leaves. Then let things go and take their course. Sometimes you just have to let things go and get ready for the next season.”
Her words were what I needed at the time. Part instructional, part empathy, packed with loads of wisdom.
I did as Jan suggested. In the blustery wind, I harvested a few ultima morpho pansies, coral geraniums, white alyssum, a few branches of Russian sage, one lonely magenta yarrow, impatiens, a bright blend of snapdragons, four beautiful blue hydrangeas, and a nice mix of nasturtiums. The groupings of posies cheered up quiet spaces as the snow began to fall. Most surprisingly though was the discovery I had enough nasturtiums to make my special nasturtium sweet kale salad mix salad.
What a treat to enjoy a summery salad in October! Things can be unpredictable, unsteady, and not want we ask for, or even pray for. Jan reminded me that sometimes we just need to let things go and get ready for the next season.
Four Tips To Let Things Go
1) Stay aware of the internal and external cues of when it is time to let things go.
2) Take the beautiful part with you. A posey, good times, warm thoughts, photos, etc. Whatever it is to warm the future heart.
3) Be thankful, celebrate, honor, and say goodbye.
4) Allow the next season to unfold. It is there for the taking.
