Is there anywhere that you leave fallen leaves on the ground on your property? Leaf matter is good overwintering shelter for a lot of Good Bugs and small critters and such.
Just curious. I rake sparingly because it’s always windy here and they mostly blow away, anyhow. I save some for the compost bins and some to use as insulation against the north side of the house that seems to help with keeping the kitchen tap from freezing up as much if we have a really cold, snow-less winter season.
There’s plenty of spots that have leaf matter. I fill up my compost bin & the rest just gets chopped more and more as I mow - eventually disappears into the grass. I collect the maple leaves around our circular driveway - we also have elm, crape myrtle, gumball & eastern redbud to name a few of the trees whose leaves I do not collect.
There was not a single cloud in the sky today until 2:30 - 3:00. It was really warm in the sunshine. By the time I got to the last 2 loads (I think I did 8), I was dragging myself, not just the ‘burito’. Hauling those leaves is a total body workout - quads for sure, back/arms. My knees did ok so that was a pleasant surprise.
We’re currently at 84 (at 4:30) & the wind has really picked up - I was fighting the tarp a bit on the leaves under the last tree. The clouds are starting to come in ... not solid yet so still some sunshine. I am picking up all the tools I used constructing the bin and putting things away. Clyde has been cleaned off and is back on the battery charger. I have a couple of gorgeous spaghetti squash, will run a couple next door to my SIL - I’ll take a picture. I’m also picking Bell & Giant Marconis off the bushes ... Bells are sort of small this late in the season, but usable. The Marconis are huge!
A few dahlia blooms left, maybe a half dozen - saw a butterfly on one today. There are flocks of birds, mostly finches, in the remnants of the tithonia & zinnias, getting the last of those seeds. They’re hanging around the garden as well. We won’t be below freezing (I don’t think), but cold rain/wind will be a significant change.
I have a very small bird bath (in addition to two large ones) and the robins really like it. The water has been disappearing - have to fill it every day. Could they really be THAT thirsty? Then I saw a robin in the bath splashing around & having a great time - most of the water is getting splashed out. The crows use the big bath for bathing - they have been around all day, carrying on about something. A Great Horned Owl was hooting the other night - that might have them unsettled.