Despite a long summer of praying for rain, I am thrilled to see the sun today. I spent all morning in the soggy garden and headed straight back out after lunch to mow the overgrown backyard. It felt good to get so much work done outside after such a long stretch of damp, dreary weather.

As you may have already seen, the cucamelons happily soaked up all that moisture. Not only did I pick a ton yesterday, but they are huge! Don’t worry, though; they taste just as delicious as always and aren’t at all tough or bitter.

The chard also continues to grow beautifully, and tomorrow I might dig some more carrots, which should be big and sweet after so much rain. Though the tomatoes look just about done, I might have a few of those for you as well on Saturday, and possibly even some peppers! I also still have plenty of onions and garlic as well.

We have just two Saturday markets left this year (Can you believe it?), so make sure to come out before the season ends! This Saturday, the market is also serving as a drop-off point for personal hygiene items and other supplies for hurricane relief in southwestern Virginia (see image below for details).

See you at the market!

The cucamelons were buzzing with life this morning. Countless bees sought nectar and pollen from the tiny yellow flowers, and I captured this photo of one of them with a grasshopper and a camera-shy ladybug.

How have we come to the end of September already? There are only three Saturday markets left for this year – and that can’t be right, but I stopped and checked just now, and it is. This Saturday, and then two in October.

The garden tells me that fall is here. I’ve begun clearing out beds to sow winter cover crops, pulling out brown, shriveled bean plants and the abundant weeds that have burst out with the recent rains. As soon as we get a dry day again, I will start digging sweet potatoes.

I’ve also been running outside during breaks in the rain (or in a light drizzle) to pick cucamelons and finally tuck in perennials that have been waiting in pots on my porch for me to plant them all summer: strawberries in a new bed, then rhubarb by the fence, more lavender in the herb garden, and even some creeping thyme and wild ginger in the front yard. Hopefully this damp weather will help them get well established before frost sets in.

Soggy as everything is right now, it looks like we might have a break of pleasant weather Saturday morning for the market (remember the fall hours: 9am-1pm!). The cucamelons certainly seem to be enjoying all this rain, so I should have plenty of those to offer! I will also have chard, carrots, onions, and garlic, along with the last jars of garlic salt and plenty of practical crocheted items for your home or gifting.

Finally, make sure to save the date for Thursday, October 24, 4-7pm, when the Broadway Community Market will be hosting a special evening market during Broadway’s Halloweenfest. We’ve been having a lot of fun with these popup markets this year, so come check it out!

See you at the market!

Looking out my window the other day, I noticed the tips of a neighboring tree fading to a brilliant yellow, and I felt a twinge of sadness. Wait! I wanted to shout at the tree. I’m not ready yet!

It’s been a hard year, with the drought, but even so I’m not ready to let go of summer. I’m still waiting on the good tomato crop that never came, and I miss the ever-abundant cucumbers already, only a week gone. But the garden is tired. The cucumber vines have shriveled to brown, the skeletal bean plants wait only to be pulled, and the peppers and tomatoes don’t show much promise. It’s time to prepare for a long winter’s rest.

There is, of course, much to love about fall, such as the show put on by the trees and the perfect blend of outdoor activity and indoor coziness. In the garden, the Perpetual Spinach chard takes center stage, thriving as the rest of the garden seems to fade. My second crop of zucchini is chugging along as well, happy for the rains this week, and the cucamelons show no signs of slowing yet. I also plan to dig carrots tomorrow and finally get some of those onions trimmed and cleaned up for market.

I will have all of those veggies at the Broadway Community Market on Saturday, which is beginning its fall hours: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. I’ll also have garlic, the last couple jars of garlic salt, and a variety of crocheted items (including adorable pumpkin bookmarks!).

See you at the market!