More Thoughts While Weeding: Labor Day reflections

Years ago a friend of mine labeled the rush of weeks between early July and the close of August as the 4th of JuLaborDay, and here we are, once again, looking at summer’s end. It is a bittersweet time, when the weather is still lovely, the light gorgeous, yet each day is shorter and clearly the seasons are in transition.

A glance around the garden confirms that fact. While the main crops are still yielding well, others are looking much the worse for wear, and the cleanup is underway. It has again been a growing season of extremes — double average rain in June with very cool temperatures, followed by July’s steamy heat and the toll that took on tomato and potato vines.