The second harvest of Dorsett Golden apples begins. The first is typically late June and is the larger crop. The fall apples are usually smaller and the yield is only ten to fifteen pounds. Most of these will be for fall desserts and perhaps some applesauce.

The sixteen year old tree is espaliered to a length of about ten feet and screens the compost bins. We recall three mature Baldwin and McIntosh apple trees in our Massachusetts yard that yielded bushels and bushels of apples.

Small cuttings of arugula started last week. Cabbage moths are still frequent garden visitors so this year I have row cover over the patch.

For now, the garden is mostly future promise: broccoli, snow peas, beets, kale, cauliflower, celery, carrots, sweet peas, lettuce, artichokes and strawberries.

The Queen Red Lime zinnias are almost three feet high and attract various butterflies, skippers, and other pollinators. They’re blocking the young sweet peas as they seek the trellis but I can’t bear to remove them in their late season prime.

My solution—take out half to make room for more lettuce and make bouquets. The older blooms are in a bouquet on the patio and will be composted in a few days. Nonetheless, from a distance they cheer me. The second bouquet is on the kitchen island.

Autumn’s garden song in color. The Sunday church bouquet.

Check the What I’m Planting Now page as I transplant and sow seeds for the cool season garden.

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