Mud House Fall

When we lived in New England, autumn was my favorite time of year.  Real or imagined, the atmosphere changed on September 1st.  Things are different here in the desert southwest.  It is almost October, and the temperatures remain firmly in the 90s. Granted, this is a relief from the 110s of midsummer, but the seasons pass here with almost imperceptible change.  No changing of green to gold, russet and red.  Here the changes are as subtle as slight shifts in the light as the sun's path moves slowly to the south.   At first, you notice cooler mornings and evenings and find yourself outside more and more during these hours.  In colder climates, gardeners are settling inside for the long winter. Here at the Mud House we are outside creating container gardens of peppers, herbs and annuals and planting a small cutting garden.  We are tackling the big job of transplanting and repotting rose bushes into the "rose garden."    We eagerly anticipate the first ripe pomegranate and we may even attempt to harvest those beautiful prickly pears.   Please stay tuned.  I will be posting pictures over the next few months which will hopefully reflect an abundance of roses, vases of colorful flowers, and herbs, peppers, and pomegranates flavoring delicious regional dishes.