Paisley Petunia

Anyways, I was thinking about how magic the universe is in that while I love summer, I know when I just can’t bear one more hot hot day or night with AC…fall will arrive and bring with it all the things I love about fall. Then it will be winter and Christmas and new years and all the fun that brings. Then when I am sick of the cold (the relative cold-again the 310 winters they aren’t really that bad) but when I am sick of the cold and have spent the GNP of a small country on garden catalogs…spring will arrive and we will start the process of summer and it’s charm all over again. Granted, the 4 seasons here in Southern California are not as defined as they might be with fiery tinted leaves in the fall or the first snow of the season. It’s more subtle; it’s like Mother Nature knows we love her but  just like any good relationship, we need a little change every now and then.

Imagine my delight when in the steamy sun of July, I was reminded autumn is not that far away.  Two beautiful fall crops are growing and getting ready for a late Indian summer or early fall debut. Behold my pumpkins and first ever butternut squash.

{the great pumpkin Charlie Brown}

{butternut squash}

{Sunburst squash, golden and red beets, first Big Boy tomato of the season, cocktail carrots and yes, more Italian squash}

{Sunny flowers}

I’ll happily endure the heat and the AC while daydreaming about college football, spiced candles, kitten soft cashmere, pumpkin pie and cozy nights by the fire. It will make it all that much more special when it gets here.