Transitions

It’s been feeling like autumn around here for several weeks now with the chilly, foggy mornings (47 degrees the other morning) and cool evenings. The days continue to shorten, which brings a change in the routine of morning and evening chores.  I've already been up for at least 30-45 minutes before I let the hens and sheep outside.  In the evenings, the sheep start baa'ing for their evening tuck-in around 7:30.  The hens start filing into the coops around 7:50 or so, just as the sun dips behind the wood line.  Unfortunately the gnats, mosquitoes and Japanese beetles have yet to get the autumn memo, but I suspect they'll become scarcer over the next couple of weeks.  

The gardens are also beginning to show signs of fall.  Mid-August is a time of transition in our northern garden.  The early summer bloomers are looking a little worse for wear with browning leaves and smaller, less frequent blooms.  Beds that were rampant with color from day lilies, lilies, dianthus, peonies, fox glove and lupines are a bit more subdued.  But this lull will be short-lived; the late summer/fall perennials are just getting going.  The sedum and asters are starting to open...  

Line of sedum

New England Aster

The dahlias and zinnias are just hitting their stride, and several of the early summer bloomers (certain of the dianthus, delphiniums, and lavender to name a few) are presenting their second set of blooms, albeit often a little less spectacular at this time of year.  

Dahlia with some purple yarrow in foreground 

Other mid-summer perennials such as the heliopsis, roses, phlox, and hydrangea will continue to bloom until the first hard frost, which hopefully won't show up until mid to late October.  There is nothing more depressing than to have a fully flowering garden struck down by a premature frost in mid-September and then have a flower-less 4+ weeks of autumn remaining.

The vegetable garden is in full harvest mode, and the 2nd batch of strawberries are coming in. The blackberries have flowered and have small berries on them, which will become gigantic specimens over the next several weeks.  The apple trees are weighted down with fruit; some may be ripe enough to pick this weekend.  Can't wait for Nora's apple pie!