The Equinox is obvious

I don't need a calendar to tell me what time of year it is. The signs are everywhere I look. 

We've had just enough beautiful days this month to send the late season flowers into glorious good looks: Trycirtis 'Tojen' (above) and Cimicifuga (below).

And more than enough wind and rain to make many things look tired and tattered.

Seedheads are bursting open.

Honey locust pods are coming down everywhere, something they will continue to do until next Spring. They crash through Hosta leaves and crush the last ferns and even found a home on this rock whose glittering Mica flakes are disappearing under a coating of lichens.

The first colorful leaves are down.

And Arum italicum 'Ghost' is popping up as it does once the weather begins to cool. This will become a big clump and look beautiful until the snow buries it.

But the most reliable sign of the seasonal switch is that fact that all I feel like doing is cooking and eating. Bulbs and plants will be arriving in the mail any day but it's too wet to garden. Usually we're hoping for rain at this point in the year but we're above normal for rainfall and rain is forecast for 7 of the next 8 days. Hunkering down in the kitchen is the only thing to do. That's where you'll find me until the rain stops and the sun comes out again.

(Rice pudding with fresh grated ginger root). 

Comments

[Roberta Sladky]

Linda - thanks for all the great posts about Olbrich Gardens as well as the Curtis Prairie!

[Lisa at Greenbow]

It appears that the moss and lichen really likes all that rain. Those seeds and pods are so unusual looking. Have fun in the kitchen.

Still dry and upper 80's/low 90's here. UGH

[Peter/Outlaw]

The kitchen is a great place to be on autumn days. Rice pudding and coffee sound divine right now. I'll be over in a flash. You did save some, right?

[Linda from Each Little World]

Peter - Better get over here fast!