As the first frost of the year arrives and I see my hydrangeas turn to a beautiful shade of umber, I think back to the vibrancy of the past growing season. Now is time to start getting ready for the colder months. It's time to spread some homemade compost to give back to the soil that's given me so much. I split the big clumps of daylilies and hostas, and plant a few bulbs for a surprise of color when the short days of winter give way to warmth of spring. All my gardening tools will get a good scrub before they're tucked away in the shed. This isn't just cleaning up; it's laying the groundwork for next year's garden while everything rests up over winter. It's a quiet goodbye to summer, but also a little promise for what's to come when the garden wakes up again.