The end of the summer and going into fall is an amazing time of year for most of us.  It signals the beginning of new adventures as students return to classes and the end of another season of gardening and summer trips.

As the weather turn cooler, many of us like to get outside and enjoy exercise without fighting the heat andhumidity.  London has many trails to enjoy with or without our furry compainions;

  1. Thames Valley Parkway
  2. Kilally Meadow Trails
  3. Westminster Ponds
  4. Warbler Woods
  5. Meadowlily Woods
  6. Sifton Bog
  7. Kiwanis Park
  8. Springbank Park
  9. Medway Valley Forest
  10. Kains Woods
  11. Lower Dingman
  12. Longwoods Road Conservation ARea
  13. Fanshaw Conservation Area
  14. Komoka Provincial Park

Outdoor Fall Fun

A fun activity to enjoy with family and/or friends is visiting an apple orchard or pumpkin patch a little later in September.

It is always a good idea to do some stretches before trying to pick some apples and remember to always bend at the knees when lifting a bushel of apples or a heavy pumpkin.

Fall in the Garden

Fall is a busy time in the garden.  It’s a time of change and necessary preparations for winter.  It’s the last chance at harvest before the cold weather sets in.  Many plants frown by local people provide unbelievable colour and beauty throughout the year but espeically this month.

Ther is a lot to be done in the fall garden, whether raking hte yard, cleaning up the garden or preparing for the next growing season.

Read more at Gardening Know How: Fall Garden Guide: Basic Fall Gardening for Beginniers: 

Fall Quote

“[T]hat old September feeling, left over from school days, of summer passing, vacation nearly done, obilgations gathering, books and football in the air…Another fall, another turned page: there was something of jubilee in that annual autumanal beginning, as if last year’s mistakes had been wiped clean by summer.”

-Wallace Stegner, Angle of Repose

Loosen up before you start to garden and protect yourself from injury

Warm Up

Before you begin any physical activity, warming up is your first step to prevent an injury.  Take a walk, even on the spot.  Ten to fifteen minutes should do it.  Don’t forget to lift your knees and gently swing your arms.

Stretch Before you Start

To plant and rake without the ache, do each of these stretches for your upper and lower body five times. Don’t bounce, jerk or strain. Stretches should be gentle and should not cause pain.

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For your Sides:

  1. Extend your right arm over your head
  2. bend to the left from the waist
  3. hold for 15 seconds and repeat on the other side

For your Arms and Shoulders:

  1. Hug yourself snugly
  2. Slowly rotate at the waist as far as is comfortable to the left, then to the right

For your Back:

  1. In a seated position, bend forward from the hips, keeping your head down
  2. Reach for the ground

For your Thighs:

  1. Face a wall or tree and support yourself against it with one arm
  2. Bend your right knee and grasp your ankle or pant leg with your left hand
  3. Hold for 15 seconds and repeat on the other side

For your Hamstrings:

  1. Stand
  2. Reach your hands to the sky
  3. Then bend at the waist and reach toward your toes
  4. Hold for 15 seconds

If you suffer an injury, don’t hesitate to rech out so that you can get back to doing the things that you love to do like gardening.