We always breathe a sigh of relief when the heat breaks. When the smoke clears. When the rain comes. We love the bounty and life and buzz of summer, but the dry heat takes its toll. This time of year feels very energizing. The days are still long and warm, but growing shorter and cooler. The garden is still producing an abundant harvest, but is getting most of its water from the rain. Sometimes it feels like fall doesn't get here fast enough, but there is an undeniable sweetness to these final weeks of summer.
Another colorful and tasty harvest:
A few times each week during garden season, a big portion of our dinner looks a lot like this:
Our corn was especially cute this year:
Harvest rainbow:
Garden goods and figs from the tree:
This mantis rode home in Craig's truck from down in Hillsboro. We think it'll be happy here:
More deliciousness:
We accidentally grew tons of cherry tomatoes this year. Two plants is plenty for us, but I think we have about ten. They are delicious though!
Hello garden frog:
Hello garden lizard:
Another resident hanging out with the chard:
Apple season is getting close:
Some early apples and late plums rounding out the garden harvest:
Sometimes I think our garden is asking me something...
This was our first year growing okra. What a surprisingly fun and tasty vegetable! I definitely plan to grow more of it next year:
Hanging out and appreciating the water drops:
Craig puts little trays of water in the barrels for the animals. Can you spot the frog and the mantis who seem to share this cucumber plant as their home?
This plum tree blooms later than the others which means that it is more likely to be well pollinated. Good thing too, because these are delicious:
Produce rainbow:
Looking majestic on the parsley. It turns out the parsley is really excellent this year too.
Apples, pears, plums, and grapes:
I thought this was a feather with a sweet message:
This mama deer came walking by our window:
Her fawn was following along with her too:
As it starts cooling off, Kitty always gets a little more affectionate:
And as fall draws near and the sun sets more in the southern sky, we are often treated to quite a show at sunset:
