September 2026.
A month in photos.
Started out hot. Had a chill the third week; it went down to 40* one night. Flowers came back as temps dropped from the 90s into the 80s, then fell as low as 58 on the first day of fall.
And on the last day of the month, it warmed up. The warmer weather will only last 3 days. Fall is here. Soon it will be in the 60s, then lower as we approach Halloween.
Passionfruit flower opening.
Passionfruit flower.
Gulf Frotollaey Caterpillar. It lives on Passionfruit and produces an orange butterfly.
Goji Berry flowers.
Basil blooms.
Providence bush beans, a fall crop, flowers just starting in the first week of the month.
Golden Raspberries, in their late-summer-to-first-frost crop. Japanese beetles attacked the leaves, but they’re fine. I use two leaves to squish them, instead of chemicals.
Native Mountain Mint blooming.
Brassicas planted in the first week.
September 6th harvest of the dwarf peas.
The 11th brought Provider green beans, and they started their harvest.
Basil harvest mid-month.
The bay tree just never got going this year. You win some years; some years you don’t. The spring flowers have returned, though, and are in full bloom.
I may harvest the tiny Bay and dry its leaves. Then I at least don’t lose on it. But for now, in the final week of the month, I dug it up and potted it up, and into the greenhouse it went.
A pollen-covered native bee.
The garden in the third week.
I planted a Goji in early spring. It’s been a plant I may remove. I am not sure yet. It grew up, then down. Wherever it touches, it tries to root. The flowers are pretty, yes, but tiny. Goji berries must be frozen or dried, and/or cooked, to even be palatable. They taste raw like the most unripe green tomato. Not what I was looking for.
Little bug cruising around.
The big toad moved outside the garden, but I see them around the property, living their lives.
Goji flowers.
Basil still going in the fourth week.
Passionfruit flowers escaping thru the fence.
A rotten tomato gave birth to a plant, growing on the farm fabric. It’s trying, though time is slipping away for it.
The last of the buttery yellow roses that grow by the house.
Last fall I hacked down the Lilac; it was horribly overgrown, with real issues. It has grown back about 4 or so feet high and is blooming in late September.
One side, along our house, bakes in the sun all summer. It is easy to ignore it. Fall comes, and it is time to cut back and remove others. Morning Glory might be pretty, but it is an issue.
Saffron Crocus. Not all came back from last year, but plenty to check out. They grow in early fall and will produce flowers in the coming weeks.
First-year lavender blooming late.
Celosia struggles in spring, but grows fast in fall.
Fall Kale planting. The bugs will eat some, but it is ok. It will taste better after the first freeze.
Fall everbearing strawberries.
More flowers starting back up for fall.
Golden Raspberries, a dual crop. Fall berries taste better to me often.
Small bee on the Mountain Mint yesterday.
Little Gem Romaine Lettuce.
White Soul Strawberries, also a dual crop.
~Sarah