Oh dear Grey!, are you in trouble if you are already thinking winter blues, and it is only mid November! We haven't had leaves now for probably three weeks - and snow on the ground!
There can be beauty at this time of the year as well though. This is the time of the year that the birds seem more obvious to me as they dig around for all the seeds that have dropped, and the berries left hanging on branches. Plants like goatsbeard, millett, False solomon seal, all leave an interesting picture even after they have died and turned brown.
I also take this time to actually get a good look at the bones of my landscape, when it isn't all covered with foliage, to see what I could do differently to enhance what I have. Do I like how those boulders are laying, do I like the flow of the edges of the gardens, those kind of things. It's easier to see these things without everything growing on top of it all.
We also get alot of our actual landscaping done during these times. Building up those rockeries, moving around boulders, putting up arbors, etc. The plantings can go in in the spring, but you have a head start on it for next year.
Then you're right, I turn to my garden magazines, and seed catalogues and dream and plan what I am going to do next year. About the end of January is when I start getting together my stuff for starting plants in my house ( I have a five tier light stand) - then later into the greenhouse.
Also, I have another very time consuming hobby, which I don't seem to get alot of time for in the summer, and that is geneology. I have been tracing my family for about 12 years and have got some of my branches back to 1600. It is a very addicting hobby, and hours can be spent without even realizing it!!
Never fear, Grey, you will find ways to fill your time, and before you know it, you'll wonder where it went!!
Val
Definitely winter's here!
Definately check out your local Hellebores! They are so cool! Just love em. (They can be a bit pricey. (At least in my neck of the woods)