Before winter really settles in, Thanksgiving weekend is a great time to take care of a few simple things around the house. Nothing major, just the little jobs that make your home feel more organized, comfortable and ready for the colder months ahead.

• Put away summer furniture, planters and outdoor accessories
• Tidy the front entry and sweep away leaves and debris
• Change your furnace filter
• Check exterior lights and replace burnt out bulbs
• Disconnect garden hoses and prepare outdoor taps for colder weather
• Clear leaves from gutters, window wells and around the foundation
• Give patios, decks and outdoor spaces one last tidy
• Check weather stripping around exterior doors

• Bring out warmer blankets, throws and bedding
• Add lamps or softer lighting as the evenings get darker
• Swap lighter summer décor for warmer textures and seasonal touches

It doesn’t have to become a full weekend project. A couple of hours spent checking off the basics can make the transition into winter feel a whole lot easier.

And once it’s done, you can get back to the better part of Thanksgiving weekend: good food, a cozy house and absolutely no reason to go outside. 🍂

HOME | Around the Kitchen Island

September arrives and suddenly it feels like we're supposed to start shutting everything down.

The patio furniture gets covered, the garden tools start disappearing and we begin preparing ourselves for the inevitable morning when Calgary decides it's winter without consulting any of us.

But I'm not quite ready to give up on the garden yet.

September can actually be one of the nicest months outside. The days are still warm, the evenings are cooler, and many plants are putting on one last show before the season ends. Instead of putting the garden to bed, I think of September as the month to help it transition.

Clean Up, But Not Too Much

It's tempting to start cutting everything back as soon as plants begin looking a little tired, but not everything needs to disappear.

Remove dead annuals and anything diseased or damaged, but consider leaving some perennials and ornamental grasses standing. They can add texture to the garden through fall and winter, and some provide food and shelter for birds and beneficial insects.

This is also a good time to keep up with weeding. Future-you will appreciate having fewer weeds waiting when the snow melts.

Keep Watering

Cooler temperatures can make it easy to forget about watering, especially once the garden isn't demanding quite as much attention.

But trees, shrubs and perennials still need moisture as they prepare for winter. If September is dry, continue watering, particularly newer plants that are still establishing their roots.

A good drink heading into colder weather can make a big difference.

Don't Get Too Excited With the Pruning Shears

Not everything should be heavily pruned in the fall.

Some shrubs set next year's flowers on older growth, and cutting them back now can mean accidentally removing next year's blooms. Hydrangeas in particular can have very different pruning requirements depending on the variety.

When in doubt, leave it until spring or check what your particular plant prefers before cutting.

Plant Something for Spring

One of my favourite things about fall gardening is that you're quietly preparing a surprise for yourself.

September and early fall are a great time to start thinking about spring bulbs. Tulips, daffodils, alliums and other hardy bulbs go into the ground now and then disappear from your mind completely.

Until one day, after months of snow and brown grass, something green starts poking through.

Worth it every time.

Enjoy What's Still Here

Mostly, don't rush it.

Pick the last flowers. Bring a few inside. Sit outside with your coffee when the sun is shining. Let the hydrangeas change colour and the grasses move in the wind.

There will be plenty of time to clean everything up, cover the furniture and get the yard ready for winter.

September isn't quite the end of the garden.

It's just the garden changing seasons.

If you've spent any time with me lately, you've probably heard me talk about English gardens.

What started as a few plants here and there has quickly turned into a bit of an obsession. Every time I open Pinterest, visit a garden centre, or walk through an established neighbourhood, I'm looking for ideas and imagining what my own garden could become.

What I love most about an English garden is the balance it strikes between structure and softness. At first glance, they can look almost wild, with flowers spilling over pathways and plants weaving together as though they've simply found their own place to grow. But underneath that relaxed appearance is thoughtful design. Every pathway, shrub, and perennial has a purpose, even if it doesn't immediately reveal itself.

To me, that's what makes them so beautiful. They don't feel overly planned or perfectly manicured. Instead, they feel as though they've evolved over time, growing a little fuller and more beautiful with each passing season.

I also love the elements that seem to get better with age. Weathered stone planters, aged garden gates, rusty trellises, and antique bird baths all develop character as the years pass. Unlike so many things that are replaced the moment they show wear, these pieces become part of the garden's story. The fading paint, the patina, and the imperfections are exactly what make them appealing.

It's never just about the plants, either.

Some of my favourite English gardens include the little details that invite you to slow down and stay awhile. String lights draped through trees, bird feeders attracting visitors throughout the day, climbing vines winding their way over an archway, and quiet corners that feel tucked away from the rest of the world all add to the feeling that the garden is meant to be experienced, not simply admired.

Lately, I've been searching for the perfect spot to place a bench in my own garden. Not because I need another place to sit, but because every English garden seems to have that one destination, a place that encourages you to pause for a few minutes with your morning coffee, a good book, or to watch the kids play with the soccer ball in the yard.

Maybe that's what I love most about these gardens. They aren't created overnight, and they're never truly finished. They change with the seasons, grow a little differently every year, and continually evolve into something more interesting than what was originally planned.

Much like a home, the beauty isn't found in perfection. It's found in the layers, the memories, and the life that unfolds there over time.

Erika

Every spring, I tell myself I'm going to be more practical in my garden.

Then I plant mint.

And every summer, I remember exactly why.

Mint is the overachiever of the herb world. Give it a little sun, a little water, and suddenly you're wondering if you've accidentally started a mint farm. (Trust me, keep it in a pot unless you're looking for a lifelong commitment.)

The best part? It's one of those plants that makes you look far more put together than you actually are.

Friends coming over? Throw some mint in sparkling water and suddenly you're hosting.

Need a quick side dish? Add it to watermelon and feta and people will ask for the recipe.

Want to feel fancy on a Tuesday? Toss a few leaves into a cocktail and call it self-care.

A Few of My Favourite Uses for Fresh Mint

• Sparkling water, lime, and mint

• Watermelon, feta, and mint salad

• Fresh mint tea

• Homemade simple syrup for cocktails or iced tea

• Fruit platters that look like you planned ahead

• Pretty much anything that needs a little summer energy

And speaking of summer energy...

This is one of those recipes that tastes like you spent far more effort than you actually did. My favourite kind.

No complicated ingredients. No kitchen gadgets you'll use once and then store beside the bread maker.

Just a ridiculously refreshing drink that's perfect for patio season.

Blackberry Mint Moscow Mules

This is one of those recipes that tastes like you spent far more effort than you actually did. My favourite kind.

So if you've got a mint plant sitting on your deck right now, consider this your sign to stop admiring it and start using it. Your summer drinks, salads, and hosting game will thank you.

And if your mint somehow takes over the entire container by August? Don't worry. That's not a bug. It's a feature.

— Erika 🌿