bulletin from georgia

after the last two weeks of copious rains, and much serious flooding
both in atlanta and north georgia, the sun is finally shining. i have a
renewed gratitude for the south’s gorgeous weather… almost always
fall perfection. 80′ today and cooling breezes, deep blue skies.
enticement to be part of it all draws me outside. the weeks of misty
mornings and hours of afternoon rains have dulled my senses. i used the
time indoors to make pickles…semi-sweet, spicy, curry-HOT, and pickled tiny okra.
the dill didnt make it, due to erratic weather, so no kosher dills this year.

today is devoted to tending the bonsai, and preparing them for winter.
i stopped fertilizing early this month, except continued foliar-feeding with
liquid seaweed. their energy needs directed inward towards healthy roots,
and not to tender new growth. their dwarfed leaves are beginning to show
color, just like their woodland neighbors. i am lucky to have a small forest
on the benches and the porch!

down here, most little trees can live on the ground, deeply leaf- mulched,
under the benches. up north, this is sometimes possible, but heavy snow
or ice can break branches that have been ramified for years. i have seen
several ways of protection in ohio including lathe-house, and garage.
although i run a cool greenhouse ( just above 40′) in the winter, they are
trees and do much better outdoors, here.

as i ride to town, it is a treat to see all the fall grasses with their varied tops and
seedheads lit up by the afternoon sun. most folks look to the autumn wildflowers,
and the vivid leaf color come october, but the many wild grasses, tall and short,
with multi-colored seedheads in hues of bright tan, golden and even fuzzy purple
are impressive. less showy, perhaps, but their subtle blend of colors is
very pleasing to the eye.

sunshine, pickles, bonsai and wild grasses. an eclectic bunch, but these are
just fleeting thoughts in the fullness of the season.
this morning i wrote a haiku that expresses my autumn impressions:

-this day-

golden sunflowers

all the guilded falling leaves

golden autumn light

enjoy this golden season, wherever you may be!

vty, j-lea