Monday, September 10, 2012

Harvest at Summer's End

This is a bittersweet time of year for gardeners. The harvest is in full swing, and each time I walk out to the garden, basket over my arm, I come back with loads of things to put up for later or eat right now. That's a mixed blessing, of course--lots of work, and things that can't wait (or you end up throwing away your summer's labor because it rotted on the counter before you could get to it). And much in the garden is dead or dying, the leaves withering and turning brown.

I'm always somewhat relieved at this point--every year I reach exhaustion with that garden chores right about the time they peak :-) There is still much to do, of course, but the nights are turning cold, and soon I'll be watching the weather channel for warnings of frost, running out to rescue the last tomatoes and squash, clipping the delicate basil and making it into pesto before the cold turns it into nothingness.

Here are a few pictures of recent harvest hauls. Do you feel bittersweet about summer turning into fall, or are you relieved to have the heat behind you and the kids back in school?





10 comments:

  1. Greetings Deborah,
    What a bountiful harvest. You are extremely lucky to be able to grow such lovely produce. I'm in a rental house and as such limited to what I can plant. In Australia at the moment, the weather is beginning to warm up as spring starts. The fruit trees are just starting to blossom and trees are regaining their leaves. My miniture herb garden will start to flourish soon (hopefully). The full moon here was very yellow and seemed just out of reach. Have a lovely week
    Blessed be
    Nicki

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    1. Nicki, maybe you can grow some things in pots. I did that when I was renting. Happy spring!

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  2. In NC Fall was my favorite time of year. I love the cool crisp air, the beautiful colors on the mountains, and Scuppernog season :) But here in FL it is just nice to get out of the high electric bills and miserable heat turns into bearable heat. I'm collecting lots of seeds this year though so that next year I can have a garden to get exhausted with :)

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    1. Gracielou,
      I love fall too. Unfortunately, because of the ragweed, I spend most of it hiding inside, but it is still beautiful :-)

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  3. Look at all that garlic! OMG! It just begs to be roasted and spread over a baguette. OMNOMNOM...

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    1. Well, half of that garlic will be going back into the ground soon for next year's harvest. But the rest, NOM indeed!

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  4. That's a lot of food! No wonder people have autumn feasts.

    How long does the garlic stay good?

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    1. Yep. Harvest feasts are a wonderful thing :-) When you have that much food, you just want to share.

      And believe it or not, most of the garlic will hold until spring, around March or April. It isn't a strong by then, and you have to cut the little green shoot out of the middle, but I'll be eating that garlic for six or seven months. (And putting half back into the ground for next year's harvest.)

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  5. That is wonderful! My daughter and her S.O. are into gardening and plan to expand their current one. Nothing like walking outside and picking fresh. The kids plan to give their excess to a local shelter, but I reminded them they still need to harvest it, and care for it, and... .

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    1. It is a lot of work, no question. I end up eating (or giving to my friends) everything I grow. But I love the idea of donating the extra...

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