Thursday Ramble: It is that time of the year

It is the time of the year when the weather turns cooler, even cold at times, and the leaves mature to yellow, gold, and red and drop by the billions. It is a very pretty time of the year. We have reached, or may be just past the peak of the fall color season.  A couple of wet and windy days and the trees will be bare until spring.  That could happen any day, I have seen many years where the last of the leaf cover hung on until the end of November. 

Two of my favorite vendors at the farmers market were telling everyone that last Saturday was the end of their season, see you next year.  One is a small organic farm that has amazing vegetables, the other a heritage orchard that had the most wonderful pears this fall. Understanding gardens and farms, I understand why it is the end of their season, they will be missed.  The vendors that are there all winter, especially those that are selling tomatoes in December, most likely are buying produce that is shipped in. One vendor specializes in restaurant produce - and often has veggies you can't buy elsewhere (Irish carrots for example.) Lettuces are grown all winter in polytunnels and greenhouses, one of my favorite vendors will sell greenhouse produce and things they grew and that store well (root veggies) all winter. There are a couple of local mushroom farms that will have fresh and local all winter.  I am going to try to go every Saturday all winter this year, and not wimp out when the weather gets colder. 

It is a wonderful time of the year for a long walk, a slow ramble, or a drive with the top down on the little car.  Like all of life, enjoy it while it is here.