After 2 separate September vacations, I returned from Virginia and California to the cool temperatures of our Ontario Fall. Quite a difference from Palm Desert at 41′ C. to Newcastle at 8′ C. ! I have to admit that I had a hard time coping with the hot dry weather in the desert areas of California and Nevada. The photo opportunities were wonderful but I could barely survive more than an hour or two during the daytime in such heat. Any future travel in that area will certainly not be in the off-season. There’s a reason for half price accommodations in September….only the hardy can survive!
So once at home, my shorts and “summery” tops were put into their storage boxes and I slipped into my jeans and a warm jacket. Then I headed out to my sadly neglected gardens and decided that it was time to harvest what remained of my tomatoes, beans, basil, egg plants and squash. These vegetables, when laid out on the patio table, were a perfect subject for any photographer or painter. Especially the eggplants, their thick deep purple skins providing a great contrast to the leeks, tomatoes and various coloured squash. The French word for eggplant seems a more fitting name…aubrigine. I love the word more than I enjoy the taste and texture of this vegetable! I have to admit though, it does taste great in a ratatouille.
The late-blooming “monks hood” and sedums are actually in their glory right now and they are providing my garden beds with some much-needed colour. I was surprised to see there are still some red and purple dahlias in bloom as well as my yellow butterfly bush. I hope that I captured this in my slide show!
Jane Walker's Cards 