Strolling through our semi-vacant garden, the notion came that the end of garden season isn’t really the end. We still have crops to grow and harvest, albeit plants like collards and kale are slow. At least the bugs are gone and there’s hardly a need to water. They actually look pretty darned good.

There are certainly vacant spots, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing going on as the old straw bales slowly compost away, delivering rich nutrients to the soil. Then there’s the continuity of improvements, at least in the gardener’s vision of what will be planted next year, what will be grown differently, or given the experience, not at all.

All in all, even with far less plants growing into whatever winter takes hold, the essence of our little patch of joy remains.