Welcome Autumn…soon!

Autumn, from my back porch…the perfect spot for sipping afternoon tea, or more!

Sunshine, clear blue skies and crisp morning air signals the celebration of fall…and the last days of summer…the burnished beauty of autumn officially begins September 22nd.

September and October are months of dramatic change…Summer draws lazily to a close. The arrival of even slightly cooler weather heralds a flurry of activity…harvest in the fields, gathering in the orchard and garden…and planning for the next. School is back in session and time has shifted from “carefree” long summer days to a more structured time with shorter daylight hours.

Leaf drop is prodigious! Trees burst into an impressive riot of russet, scarlet and gold and autumn breezes mingle enticingly with the rich, unforgettable scent of fall mums.

A sudden shaft of sunlight filters through the autumn canopy…

A harvest of flavors and colors…I hope you have your seeds for cool season salad greens in the garden…they will sprout and provide weeks of crispy greens till first frost. If not, plant now as they still have time to sprout. Also, edible flowers, like pansies shown above, are a colorful addition to salads.

Along with those fresh salad greens…use rainbow carrots peeled into ribbons, slices of radishes and fennel, garnished with pomegranate seeds and crumbled feta cheese. Toss with a nice Dijon vinaigrette…perfect salad along with sweet corn fritters and bacon for an autumn evening…

Sweet Corn Fritters: Cook 3 ears of corn in salted water, then remove kernels. Sift together 3/4 c. flour and 1 tsp baking powder…Whisk 1 egg and mix into dry ingredients…and 3/4 cup [or enough to just make a tight batter] of milk, chopped green onions or chives, S&P and a pinch of cayenne [optional]. Stir in corn. Drop spoonfuls of batter into iron skillet with oil  and fry for 2-3 minutes on each side, until crisp.

For us…organic gardeners…we know that early fall is the best time of the year to plant.  Sunlight is less intense, evenings are cooler and typically rainfall is more plentiful. Plant roots grow quickly and have an easier time establishing before winter arrives. A great time for top dressing the garden, roses, shrubs and perennial flower beds with your own rich compost…a nice warm blanket for winter.

Along the east coast of America, life on the farms and in villages from Maine to the Carolinas, runs through the seasons in a timeless rhythm. Each year as autumn sets the leaves alight with brilliant color…traditional orange pumpkins, golden maize and splendid blooms of potted chrysanthemums decorate the front porches of simple farm houses to large custom homes. In the soft autumn sunlight and cool evening, there is no more tranquil place than watching sunset from the porch…HOME, that place of comfort, warmth and solace.

From Holly and me…enjoy the changing season, stay safe if you’re in the path of Hurricane Florence…we seem to be having lots of rain and wind here in Virginia and hope for the best as she approaches the coast.

Til next time…