Tangerines brighten the garden scene while the nearby vegetables only anticipate a harvest. Buttons of broccoli appear deep in the leaves, cauliflower plants enlarge, transplanted lettuce thrives, beets and carrots grow leafy reminders of what is happening below the soil line. Snow peas and sweet peas begin to climb their trellises.

I have a ritual for eating the first and last tangerines of the season. On a warm, sunny day. I sit on the steps leading to the garden This tangerine was so large, I decided to wait until I could share the moment and the tangerine with my husband.

Soon I’ll be adding tangerines to my lunch salads. Here, lettuce, apples, yellow peppers from the garden join with Fuyu persimmon and pomegranate arials.

Radishes add interest and color to winter salads.

While most of the bonus strawberries are small and some have white shoulders, this beauty surprised us.

I extracted a few red onions early for a recipe but I’ll let the others size up.

I’m sliding into the holidays slowly with a winter bouquet. A friend brought a poinsettia and I’m composing a wreath in my mind. Mid-week we’ll get our tree. Savoring the days.

Dave at Our Happy Acres is taking a deserved break from Harvest Monday until early February but I’ll continue to post a garden roundup most Mondays.

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