Early fall is is full of local harvest festivals. Since time immemorial, a good harvest is something we love to celebrate.

So why not make the most of your own garden's bounty? Create a batch of refrigerator pickles (so easy!), bake apple desserts and try new crafts. Or  cook something that uses lots of  end of season tomatoes.

There are more ideas than any of us has time to accomplish, but no one said it needs to be all done every year. The ebb and flow of life creates seasons when we concentrate more on one task than another. That's only natural.

There were years I made dried herbal wreaths to enjoy during the winter, and other times when seed saving was my most important activity.

The main message is to cull those autumn season activities that bring you the most joy and benefit from your garden- and do them with gusto!

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The Glory Of Fall Flowers, Foliage, And Food

Early fall begins with asters, Autumn clematis, and the blooms of Chrysanthemums, but soon the cooler nights start working their magic on the foliage. Plan for color trees, shrubs, and even perennials can add to the landscape. Berries have formed and will add to the fall's bounty and beauty, often remaining through much of the winter.

Did you know that Chrysanthemums are one of those flowers that come in a season stretching succession of bloom times? They are categorized as early-, mid- or late-season flowering. The earliest flowers start in mid-September and continue through late October, making Chrysanthemums the pivotal perennial flower of the Autumn.

Stretching a Blooming Season

Planting a Fall Food Crop

This time of year is when we plant for fall edibles in the vegetable garden, refreshing the landscape with a bit of sprucing up, and getting ready for next spring. We plant bulbs, dig up flower beds, divide perennials, and generally ready the garden for the coming hibernation that will begin with the first killing frosts of late autumn.

It is a time for ending this season (while trying to prolong it as much as possible), and getting a head start on the next, including planting trees and shrubs. Harvesting goes on, with tomatoes and peppers until frost, and apples all though the season.

After the first mild frosts vegetable crops such as cabbage and parsnips taste better, and apples and pears improve. A hard or "killing" frost will come later and damages unprotected plants.

Good things for fall:

Blog The Apple Harvest

If you love apple cider and baked apples this is the chance to have your fill. Roadside stands are often abundantly supplied with many varieties, and often offer good quality apple cider for sale. If one is located near you, U-Pick farms are a fun activity. Collect your favorite apple recipes and take advantage of freshly ripened apple produce -buy locally!
Apple Recipes | Heirloom Apples | Tasty Apples