One of the most cloying scents in the air is the smoke of those lighting their wood stoves for the first time. As the sun makes shorter appearances, many bring the element of fire indoors by lighting candles and fires to acknowledge the change in season. Brush is burned to provide ash to lightly spread through garden beds. Autumn feels like a good time of year to clear away the things we no longer need as life shifts to the interior on physical and mental levels. It is a time to celebrate the harvest, prepare for the short and dark days, and anticipate the inevitable winter storms.

Part of the changing climate in northeast Ohio seems to be a longer and later growing season, the closer to the lake you are the more pronounced this might be. The lake remains warm while the ambient temperatures drop. Peppers, tomatoes, and eggplants may still be yielding quite a bit of fruit, and maybe you’re trying to figure out what to do with all those pumpkins and squash. Marigolds, calendula, and maybe some asters are still blooming. Meanwhile, it’s time to plant garlic and go on fall color hikes. Leaf color change and drop is perhaps the most obvious seasonal indicator of the whole year. Other more subtle indicators can help cue our appreciation of the last days of the growing and gardening season. 

Garden Tasks 

This is also a good time to check out Rustbelt Roots: How to Store Fresh Fruits & Vegetables.