Welcome to the Fall Season



This last, lonely apple is probably destined for the cider press.

Well, it finally arrived – fall, that is.  Yes . . .  I know:  The official start of fall came nearly two weeks ago on September 23^rd.  But it never felt that way – too much rain, too many gray, cloudy, overhanging days.

Fall is supposed to be accompanied by brisk cool weather and puffy clouds against the backdrop of a blue sky.  If AccuWeather keeps its promise, the sun will shine for the rest of this week and into the next, punctuated with rain on the last three days of October.
 
Expect cool nights and comfortable daytime temperatures.  That is, if Mother Nature does not change her mind in between now and then:  It’s been known to happen quite frequently. She can be unpredictable.
 
Nonetheless, for the next ten days it’s worth your planning for any outdoor activities which you may have been thinking about.


 A clump of ready, Red Delicious appples awaits your picking.

Yet, despite some of the wet weather, Pris and I were able to squeeze in a couple of outdoor visits to some of our favorite local area places.  On Friday, we visited Melick’s Town Farm at its pick-your-own apple orchards in Oldwick.
 
We like to get a jump on the first pickings, but missed the opportunity this year.  One of our favorites, the crisp, sweet-tart Cortland apple was long gone when we arrived.  No surprise.  A Cortland apple matures early in the season and, in order to get the best flavor, it needs to be picked when just ripe. 
 
Melick’s has a wide variety of apple trees, and also offers an extensive assortment of pumpkins, jams, jellies and other fall goodies.  It makes for a pleasant family outing.
 
On Saturday, we took a ride to the Valley Brook nursery.  It’s on Route 22 East, just before the Spinning Wheel Diner (another of our favorite local haunts) in Lebanon. 
 

This scene at Valley Brook nursery is all fall.

Valley Brook has one of the best and largest offerings of trees, shrubs and flowers in the area.

My garden contains Russian Sage, Rosy Thorns, and three varieties of Spirea shrubs from that nursery.  I’ve seen tracks all around and in the garden, but deer want no part of those plants – too thorny, or not tasty enough!

The grounds of Valley Brook are now covered with the produce of the fall season.  There are pumpkins ranging in size from tiny to humongous, and a wide assortment of fall flowers carpets the site.

Thanks for reading.  Enjoy the rest of the week.  Tomorrow is hump day.

(Click on any image for an enhanced view.)