September's Garden Journal

The autumn equinox occurred on September 21st. On the equinox the length of the day is equal to the night with the days becoming shorter as we move into winter.

Looking around the garden we begin to see the blaze of goldenrod coupled with the cool tones of blue mist flowers. Our tomatoes are fading just as the frost aster begins to break into bloom. The leaves are coloring and beginning to fall.

This change of seasons brings a sense of urgency to the work of harvesting and putting the bounty by for use in winter. We dry, preserve, and pickle all we can, in anticipation of the dark lean days ahead. All the while turning our faces to the sun, as we know that with each day that passes, we will have less opportunity to enjoy its warmth.

The song of the garden is also changing. We no longer move to the constant hum of the Dog Day Cicadas and instead are surrounded by the rustle of falling leaves as we begin planting lettuce, cabbage, carrots, radish, kale, and collards along with other cool season crops that we will harvest this fall or overwinter.

Come visit the garden, soak up the warmth of the fall sun, and learn more about growing vegetables year-round.