As Mrs. Ukens and I sat at the dining room table on a recent cool morning enjoying our morning coffee, (A cup of coffee with you Mrs. Ukens; a nod to Capt. Jack Aubrey and Dr. Maturin of Master & Commander fame), we admired the luscious green, spreading growth of the asparagus ferns hanging from the supporting posts on our front porch.
During the summer the hot, dry, southwest winds take a toll on the ferns as they hang fully exposed to those sometimes violent winds.
A few years ago I installed an automatic watering system that daily keeps the roots of the ferns damp. This prevents any permanent damage from the winds as the ferns struggle to grow in the heat of summer.
They have done magnificently this year!
Looking ahead, Wednesday of this week the temperature is predicted to be -29° F. While the ferns will survive the below freezing temperature, the watering system with its small tubes and controller exposed to the freezing air will not. So today I will remove and store the watering system to use again next year.
In a way, its sad to know the ferns we have enjoyed so much will gradually turn brown and die due to a lack of moisture.
But the seasons march on.
I feel there are essons for us all in there somewhere.
Have a great day.
don3518@gmail.com