An Early Hint of Fall’s Approach

We are still in the hot days of August, those days when by 9 a.m. your shirt is already soaked with perspiration. As the temperatures increase throughout the day, I find it necessary to rest in the shade of a large white oak, which is located by an old fencerow that borders the field that I am working in.

Every year when we reach the days of late August, my thoughts begin to enter on the upcoming Fall gardens that will be filled with early to late Fall varieties. As a landscape painter, I am always on the lookout for new subject matter. With each passing day, I am aware of subtle changes in the lighting during the day.

Sunrise comes a little later, and sunset comes a little earlier. The character of the landscape begins to change as the leaves of some trees begin fading to varying tones of ochre greens, and when a breeze stirs, a few leaves begin making their way towards the ground. Areas of the gardens that were filled with early Summer plantings are being cleared out to make space for the Fall plantings which will soon follow.

Today, I sowed turnip seed and dill for late harvest. In our hot house, there are trays of cabbage, collards, kohlrabi and other varieties of seedlings which will be set out in September. The days of early Fall will be here before we know it.

–  John Coykendall, Blackberry Farm Master Gardener