Resting after Thanksgiving

“Ah! on Thanksgiving day ... come the pilgrim and the guest.”

John Greenleaf Whittier

“But God has never told us what a turkey means.”

G. K. Chesterton

From my personal gardening perspective, the Thanksgiving holiday has always meant a rest from gardening and a time for being with family and friends. We are entitled to occasionally rest, and gardens will tolerate a few days of neglect. I am thankful to have a couple days off and that my family and friends are well.

We usually associate the resting period of plants with the arrival of autumn -- cooler temperatures and the distinct possibility of rain. In temperate climates like Laguna, these periods of quiescence also coincide with shortened and decreased intensity of daylight hours.

Most plants require a break, just as we require sleep and an occasional vacation. This is necessary to prepare a plant for its mission -- namely, to grow, flower and produce fruit. Under natural conditions, a plant may remain at rest for a period of weeks or even months.

Plants are said to be resting when they simply quit growing (not to be confused with an annual completion of its life cycle). No matter how much we fertilize or water, Bermuda grass and St. Augustine grass will not grow or turn green during their dormant period.

Likewise, once a deciduous tree loses its leaves, it will not re-leaf until its environmental conditions are favorable for growth. Quiescence is an internal mechanism of a plant, affected by external temperature, quantity and quality of light, and available moisture. In other words, a plant “knows” when it is time to start growing again.

Many plants have adapted to their climes. They grow during the rainy season and rest during the dry season. Plants as diverse as cacti of the deserts, orchids of the tropics, and natives of the chaparral are all examples of this adaptation. Resting prepares the plants for blossoming and prevents them from weak and puny growth, a possibility if nature attempted to keep them in a period of activity throughout the year.

It was only after my second helping of turkey that I considered that I might be reenacting the Battle of the Bulge. However, that momentary thought was lost in the midst of the third serving. So much for quiescence.... On second thought, I may have to work in the garden a bit this weekend, just to work things off. See you next time.

* Steve Kawaratani is happily married to local writer, Catharine Cooper, and has two cats. He can be reached at (949) 497-2438 or plantman2@mac.com.

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