A recent trip to Colorado gave me time to enjoy the fall colors before a hard freeze zaps the show from shrubbery and trees. The burning bushes were an intence blazing red while many trees dotted the landscape with gold and rust tones. It was breathtaking and we were traveling west, not into the eastern United States known for the fall show of colors.

Arriving at home and looking out my kitchen window, the temperatures had dropped enough while gone to drain the last color from marigolds and zinnias. I knew that the chore of the final garden cleanup was waiting.

The forecast was filled with...