That’s a Wrap!
Well… sort of. Almost. Not quite yet.
I’ve been “joking” for a few weeks now that if it frosted that night I wouldn’t be upset. The first hard freeze each year marks a sort of “point of no return” when it comes to our journey through the seasons.
It is a final and unavoidable book-end as the bounty and abundance of another season come to an end. The flowers begin to fade and the final harvests are brought in. We slow down just a bit. We collect seeds, make notes, and “observe obsessively.” (A phrase I picked up from Ben O’Brien of Wild by Design during our Cultivating Place conversation which will drop Thursday - I’ll post a link when it does).
While we’re many degrees away from our first frost, we recently crossed another meaningful and first-time milestone in a year of so many firsts. Saturday, September 27 was the last day The Lot Next Door was open for the 2025 growing season.
Over these next few weeks, we’ll turn to “winding down” as we work to find homes for the remaining outdoor plants, add more plants to the display gardens, deep clean, and prepare for the holiday season just around the corner. We don’t do much “putting the garden to bed” around here since we leave all material standing in place to maximize habitat (more on that later).
The Lot will be back soon - Friday, November 21, and it will be dressed in its holiday finest. Expect gorgeous evergreens from garlands and wreaths to supplies for your window boxes and outdoor containers, plus a gorgeous assortment of fresh-cut trees in a range of sizes. And, a few other surprises I can’t talk about just yet…
And, we still have a few special events on the books when the Lot will be open before the holidays. Toward the end of October, you can look forward to a double-header weekend starting with the New Moon Market on Friday, October 24 from 4-9p.
This special twilight market celebrates all things eerie, autumnal, and enchanting.
Discover seasonal decor, handmade treats, mystical wares, candles, curiosities, and spooky-themed goods. Enjoy dinner by Puerto Vallarta Express and drinks by Funktioal N/A Cocktails, along with henna art, and tarot readings in the camper.
Oh, and a bonfire, because of course.
The next night, Saturday, October 25, from 6pm-9pm, we welcome Botany & Beats: Where Nature Meets Sound!
Experience a unique audiovisual journey featuring a Live Visual Mixtape, 90's-inspired art, and a diverse lineup from nature-inspired beats to soulful hip-hop. You can also enjoy a variety of festival-quality design, delicious Mexican/Korean fusion from A Bite with Mee, and a wide selection of beverages, including sober-curious options and craft cocktails. Join us for an unforgettable evening where nature and sound collide! More details coming soon. In the meantime, save the date.
It’s been a tremendous first growing season in The Lot Next Door. It was a year to learn, discover, connect, experiment, and try new things, from plants to events. Of course, we have our own wish list of products and plants we’d love to include for 2026, but I would also love to hear from you if you have ideas or suggestions for things you’d like to see in The Lot Next Door next year.
In the meantime, our full team is gearing up and getting excited for this year’s holiday season. These few weeks are always a highlight for us, and we’ve already opened reservations for private holiday parties and wreath-making workshops. I’m particularly excited about our new offering of Simmer Pot workshops this year. I fell in love with them last winter and can’t wait to share them with you.
We’ve also been busy placing dozens of holiday orders from local and independent makers and businesses both here and across the country. There’s going to be a lot of beauty, talent, skill, care, and love in store inside The Botany Shop this year. It’s shaping up to be one of our most dynamic, captivating, and intriguing collections that we’ve pulled together for a holiday season (more on that later, too.)
While The Lot might be closed for retail shopping over the next few weeks, time will fly by as it always seems to do, in many ways because these few weeks are anything but fallow. It’s a season of unpacking, analyzing, planning, and (just a bit more) resting.
For myself, I’m looking forward to taking a few more deep breaths, cooking more, and enjoying my own autumn garden as the Asters triumphantly lead us into October, absolutely covered with pollinators.
I hope, wherever this note finds you, you might make time to lean in to comfort, safety, community, and joy. As the days grow shorter, we’re meant to slow down and take a pause. To consider, create, center, and cultivate joy where and when we can.
For me, that happens in the garden itself, spending time with the plants.
Happy gardening, plant lovers. We’ll see you soon.
With Gratitude,
Ben | Farmer, Founder, CEO