A Change of Seasons at the Retreat

The brilliant coloration of witch hazel framed against the equally radiant coral-barked maple outside the Farmhouse is the best indication that Fall has arrived at Hedgebrook.  The writers can pluck one of the finally ripening kiwis from the vine along the garden fence or a bunch of Interlaken grapes from the arbor and pop them like candy as they come and go to their cottages. The last of the apples from the orchard are being picked and of course there is always an apple or pear to entice the neighboring llamas to the fence for a late season encounter.  The wood shed is being re-stocked with next year’s firewood, the waterfall is once again active and the ponds have begun to refill as we celebrate the seasonal change upon us.We are also engaged in the selecting of next year’s writers just as the final writers are occupying the cottages for this year.  With close to 1,000 applicants, this has been a particularly exciting and inspiring process that will culminate in early December.  At the same time we are finalizing participants for the end-o-season Master Classes and the reprise of our Fall Hedgebrook Salon at the retreat that will take us to Mid-December when we will begin the annual preparations throughout the retreat grounds and in the cottages for the 2012 residency season.