Last Salad

I picked some of the last veggies from the garden Saturday morning: tiny turnips, cherry tomatoes, radishes, a variety of lettuces and spinach, and a lone red bell pepper. I picked in the the chilly dawn, everything still wet with dew and Friday's rain, and my fingers were nearly numb from the cold when I was done. It really is autumn.

I was skeptical about fall plantings... if they'd have enough growing time to be worth the trouble... but they do and they are.

I pulled all of the Italian parsley, created a bouquet - then dried it in the oven. There's plenty till next season and some to give away.

Sage is drying more slowly in the back room, what a scrumptious aroma.

Driving home Friday evening, I stopped in the rain to catch some color just north of Columbus.

Color in the yard isn't nearly so vivid for the most part.

Hazel and I walked to the North End this afternoon.

Looking south toward the house

Fading colors on the bend

Across the road, it's more autumnal.

The Blue Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia) is still the star of the yard, colorwise...

here in thin morning light,

and warmed by autumn's rays, later in the afternoon.