Mosaic season
First rains
The highlight of autumn for us has to be the first rain! After a very long and very dry summer, you can just hear the cracked earth and the dried out plants sighing a sigh of relief.
Colours
“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower” – Albert Camus
Autumn sunset over fairy hill
Autumn growth
It may be bearing a bit late, but our young beautyberries are giving honour to their name:
Kale, beets and friends (with a long urban farmer’s shadow):
I just love the “green sheen” of our paths and seating areas growing:
In-between projects
Cleared this litle kikuyu and weed jungle to make way for an entrance path… But now, do we plant fescue and clover, knowing the kikuyu roots are going to grow out again?
Nets and covers
We’re lifting all the bird nets to let the autumn colours shine through – and to allow the birds and other critters back among the vines and fruit trees to do their natural thing.
Crucial work now is to put frost protection in place. I’m now putting shade net on the morning sun side of the avocados in order to reduce their “defrost speed” as the morning sun hits them after a heavy frost. Let’s hope it works!
Last quote
The last faded autumn leaflet hangs from a frozen branch, just a short fall from the tree to winter. – Terri Guillemets
I can’t believe it’s the shortest day of the year in just 3 weeks’ time! But we still have a long cold and hopefully wet winter ahead, so we’re enjoying these beautiful autumn days while it’s lasting. Next weekend, next rain…
I just can not figure out what the allure of your half of the Planet is. Perhaps it is the contrast of what is happening here. Perhaps it is the similarities of such a different and foreign culture. I just can not figure it out. You will be getting your shortest day of the year at the exact same time that we will be getting our longest day of the year. While you are concerned about frost, we are trying to stay cool. It is fascinating.
It is fascinating Tony – and in six months’ time when you’re shivering from the snow and blizzards (depending where you of course), we’ll be looking for shade and wondering if we’ll ever get rain again!
Well, we do not get snow here, but I know what you mean.
Inspired Martin… love this photo essay of yours. I wish our autumn was as nice. Yes we get pretty colours but the weather is downright aweful here in the Lage Landen
Thank you Jannes!