Vision Accomplished

When the raised beds were built in the spring, they looked very lonely...very white...and very big. They were purpose built to hopefully grow some blight free tomatoes (good luck with that I hear you say)))). So, remember, I had this idea...if nasturtium seeds were tucked in all along the front edge, wouldn't that be "A VISION" in fall!! Could that soften the hard look of the beds and for this year at least, integrate the raised beds with the rest of the garden?

Well the nasturtiums didn't do well to begin with; the earwigs wouldn't leave them alone, and the sprouts limped along doing practically nothing for a very long time...until, the tomato plants started to die back and then they exploded onto the scene. They have now climbed to the top of the trellis, spill over the lawn and are actually becoming THE VISION!



The garden is amazingly, still, putting on a good show. I filled in a few spots with pots when the front bed was redone but all and all, Autumn is awesome!

Autumn Greens...and Blues....A Day Away from the Garden

Yes, these greens look good enough to eat..."Madame, a selection of the finest the sea has to offer"))).

Bayswater Beach Yesterday; the shoreline was strewn with seaweed, usual for this time of year...a great time to gather nutrients to put in the garden where allowed, but, that was not why we were there.


Cousin is back for an autumn vacation with us, and on such a beautiful sunny day we decided to take him to the Swissair Memorial internment site which is just across from the beach. Although a tragic loss, I can't imagine a more beautiful spot to rest for eternity...the sound of surf, birds, rustling leaves, in a woodland garden.

http://ns1763.ca/lunenco/swissbaysw.html


Our Nova Scotia roads and highways are lined with fall asters, wild rose shrubs covered in hips and glistening gold grasses. Where it is cooler, the trees are starting to change color but on the South Shore, the change is not as advanced as other areas. Today is a crisp'ish day; Jack Frost can't be too far away.

AUTUMN GREETINGS!

Yes indeed, the colors are beginning to change...time to hang up the "Autumn Greetings" sign, put out the spooky stuff, and enjoy the scent of damp and rot in the air! God I love fall..yes, I do!! The colors are hot and dark and full and rich...chocolate soil,.. gold, scarlet and purple leaves....still plenty of green though and even those are deepening their painterly colors.

Bloggers I follow are sharing their joy of the season...Thomas' purple tomatillo salsa at A Growing Tradition, Mango Cheeks plum and ginger crumble meltingly comforting at Allotment 2 Kitchen, Niki's fantastic gourds at Year Round Veggie Garden which despite all odds have given a bumper crop to share with her community. Well...isn't that the root or rather the fruit, of autumn...this bountiful gift of being able to share....food, recipes, seeds, and simple joy.

Oh it's going to be a great season)))...can you feel it!!


"Find your Bliss"..Andy at Kensho Studio quoted this in a recent post. Autumn..it's MY bliss right now))).

The Change

There's no denying it...summer has pretty well gone from the garden and soon from the calendar, except for the killing frost which I sincerely hope is a little while away yet. Heavy morning dews show us a different garden than the one we have been used to seeing...asparagus fronds sparkle and highlight the custard white squash grown much larger than it should have been allowed (ahem...)))) Very suitable for decoration though!


Foliage is collapsing inside the vegetable garden, although there are still sturdy greens growing...leeks, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and more.

It's this time of year especially, when spiders delight in catching you in their webs, showing off their brilliant weaving skills!


It's time to pick up a few pumpkins and think about Thanksgiving.......lots to be grateful for... it's been a wonderful summer.

Joyful Tomato Days

DO YOU CAN?... "Jumpins" (as my uncle Richard is fond of saying))))...Yes I do!!!

Sure I started out with the pickles and jams about thirty-five years ago...but recently (the last six years or so) I got "all exotic"..and if you have followed my blog I specifically grew tomatoes this year hoping to make again, my favorite Tomato chutney.. from Madhur Jaffery's book "Taste of India" and a new recipe of Sarah Raven's called Chilli Jam.


It's been a great day..lots of boiling and steam... tomatoes from our garden (gold, purple and red) simmering...the house smells of garlic, cumin, ginger, fennel....and more.

Yes my legs are saying sit down, but my mouth is saying...sigh, bliss..ummm..as I reach for the cheddar cheese, crackers and that lovely soft warm chutney..ahem..jam. Makes no diff..it's divine.