Summer is Fading Fast and Fall is in the Air (Not to mention a hurricane!)

Here in my Maryland zone 7 garden, crops are slowing down and the intense heat of summer is cooling just a bit.

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Just back from a great stumble to upstate New York , where I went to travel to herbalgalpal and fellow gardener , Gert Coleman . I made the trip with my first cousin Sharon Crain , we have share an exuberance for all things herbal for many decades . Our other herbal age bracket and fellow “ cookie ” Pat Crocker , drove down from Canada . We all arrived with summer bounty from our gardens and local farmers ’ food market produce , so we had an astonishing regalia of food for thought to create wonderful meals and we dined on simple , tremendous , garden - inspired dish . We spent quite a bit of time indoors — creating and cookery — and around the kitchen mesa , savoring food , friendship and sharing our favorite books . Gert had gathered flowers and herbaceous plant from the wild and her garden and every room in the house had a fragrant display .

Outside , we walk and hiked the hills that were at the al-Qa’ida of the Catskills . Dog Thorne , led us along the air mile of different trail through meadows shoulder high full of goldenrod ( we identified at least five ) wild grass , native phlox , Joe Pye mourning band , eupatorium , and much more . We climb into the pine where it was cool and shady and baby-sit by waterfalls that cascaded down age - sure-enough stony drop-off . We oohed and aahed at the panoramic vistas of green hills and we dumbfound up - close and personal with our cameras photographing Indian pipes , gaga flowers and Berry , Malus pumila trees and blackberries , not to mention the pollinators . Speaking of which , the hummers outside of Gert ’s kitchen window think about us throughout the day zooming from nectar to monarda and chasing one another about the front flower beds . Gert and her husband , Peter , planted a new bed with a variety of florescence perennials , squash and dome and herbaceous plant which were eff the conditions there and lush from the abundant high - water mesa .

It really dawned on me how debauched summertime is go — fall was by all odds in the air there — Night and mornings we had on sweatshirt , long knickers , socks and shoes . Though in the day we paired down to short - sleeves or sleeveless and need a sun hat for our cost increase ( besides wear a chapeau somehow keeps the annoying gnats from flying in your face which was good tip from Gert ) .

While there we visitedThe Farmers ’ Museumin Cooperstown , which is an absolute must if you are in the area . We loved the gardens , farm creature , and the store with the first - person interpreters . My favorite shop were the druggist where we learn to roll ginger pill and make herbal lozenges and mint sugar . And the weaver / broom Almighty where we saw endearing yarns dyed with natural plant from Echinacea to woad and goldenrod . In the garden , they were acquire telling , corn , cabbage , Swiss chard and baccy , which happened to be in bloom . I enthral in the hop poles there , which were an impressive internet site . We enjoyed the child chicks and duck of row , the geese were be sick loudly and the goats were frolicking and butting heads . They had the most perfect turkey house I have ever see , build up of woven vines with a thatched roof .

It was knockout to leave such a lovely restful smear ; however we all had our lives and gardens to return too . We did though , and stopped at the Cooperstown sodbuster ’ market ( another expectant photo op ) on our way out of Ithiel Town , where we loaded up on gorgeous garlic bulbs , baked good ( sustenance for the misstep rest home ) and a few must - have veggies that we did n’t have in our gardens at home .

How to preserve herbs for winter useBack at rest home , the piece of cake table on the back porch entertain each days ’ harvest — always tomato , chiles and squelch — sometimes onions , garlic , cukes , beans or aubergine . I was compelled to reap my nigh - flowering St. Basil upon my return and this calendar week I froze some aromatic spread , hung basil to dry , and of grade had pesto for dinner . It is not too later — in fact you well get out there and slew yours ! You will be glad this winter to have it on hand in any way to clear up meal . For instructions on conserve your herbal harvest go to my videos on this web site . Check outHow to Harvest Annual Herbs , How to Dry Herbs , andHow to Freeze herbaceous plant . The library paste are well-heeled and a quick and efficient style of putting up a spate of St. Basil . Happy Herbing !

An quake , then a hurricaneAdded note : Last week , we inhabitants of the Mid - Atlantic experienced a 5.8 earthquake . Having never feel one before and not having a clue that we might have one , I know instinctively it was an earthquake as I sat here in my business office and the ground shake off beneath my feet . It certainly have the adrenalin pump ! And here it is happen again – my adrenalin rise that is – as we prepare for Hurricane Irene . These are pretty strong messages come from our planet Earth . We are batten down the hatch as well as everything out there in the garden that might shove off away . To all of you – be secure and – fare thee well !

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Picturesque farmhouse built in the late 1800s with a lively stand ofMonarda didyma, which attracts hummingbirds. Click on other pix to enlarge and read captions.Photo/Illustration: Susan Belsinger

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