humboldt homestead: Change in the Weather

The Zinnia in Brilliant Autumn Hues...

Passion Flower...

And Passion Fruit...Will they ripen? Who knows!

The Intense Autumn Colors...They are a redeeming beauty in the encroaching darkness...Below, Random, Out-of-Season Amaryllis...Over-summered in the garden, this cutie which hadn't bloomed when I attempted to force it last winter, decided September was its time to shine. Beautiful!

Above, Close up of Nasturtium...Below, Golden Delicious Apple...

Snoopy...In his favorite resting bed of flattened spring grass...

Perennial Sunflowers...Nearly 12' high these will bloom until frost. They are hardy and invasive.

Bad News...The yellow jackets have begun to help themselves to my grapes with a notable vengeance. For what we are punished, I know not. The grapes on the old adopted vineyard I was caring for are virtually a total loss as well. Those to mildew. (no pics. Trust me, it's bad.) We only did 1/2 the job there. Prune + Barely sucker + No sulfur = Fully trashed and mildewy grapes. In regard to the yellow jackets, probably aggressive trapping, early in the season would've helped. I live quite in the woods up here, and there are seemingly endless quantities of them. Since they've invaded I have been trapping them, and it is truly dramatic the huge amount I can collect each day. Yuck!

The Grim Reality...The yellow jackets (several different kinds, PLUS these nasty big black and white ones!) have consumed about 1/2 of the Pinot Noir and are working on the table grapes. They love the Perlette, which are golden green table grapes, with an awesome, earthy flavor. Luckily, they have left the Ruby Red and Thompson (which are later) more or less alone. Still, I am forced to pick a lot of the fruit before it is really sweet enough. Brix on the Pinot, was just 18 this morning. As you can see above, if I wait until it is 21+ they will all be gone. In a day, these beasts can empty an entire young vine, leaving just empty grape skins. Very funny. Not.

Below, view how bountiful and beautiful the grapes can hang. This is a mature vine from an old homestead, obviously they have been well cared for. Mannuka grapes - perfect for eating fresh and especially good for drying.

More Insect Damage...Sorry if I am focusing on the negative. It's the harsh reality of homestead dreams gone bust.

The weather has been down right freezing the last two days. I am gloomily accompanying summer on its downward descent into the windy, brrrrrdiful season of the approaching winter. I am grateful for the bounty of good fruit we are enjoying right now. We have plums galore, pears for days, and lots of luscious grapes, even with the ravenous winged ones. So, I will try to bask in the bright colors, and sweetness of autumn, in spite of the losses, chill wind, and grey. Below, check out the Red Bud Tree...do these bloom in the fall/winter? I think they might. It is hope in these darkening days.