Is That a Weed in my Garden of Eden?

As the earth dances its way around the sun, the inevitable result here is cooler temps at night.

I love fall, not only because the foliage is beautiful but also because it still symbolizes new beginnings, as in a new school year. It's been a long time since I've started a new semester, but for me the shorter days and cooler air evoke a different, more focused vibe.

One of the best things about autumn is you get to wear jackets. This means that no matter how torn or stained your clothes are you can just grab a jacket to run errands instead of having to change into something decent so people don't mistake you for homeless and direct you to the nearest thrift shop or People In Peril center. Honestly, judging by all the bleach spots and food stains on my T-shirts and shorts you'd think I did nothing all summer but clean, eat, and stage a laundry strike. Upon reflection that may have some advantages, which I need to explore later.

Gotta focus. With the cooler night air, it will soon be time to move our house plants indoors after summering on the patio. I dread the transition, not only because it involves heavy lifting, but also since it means a significant drop in foot candles as they huddle inside for the next eight months with their faces upturned to the grow-lights. Kind of like me in the winter ....

White flies have been a problem this summer. I need to spray my flora for bugs and fungus before bringing them inside, which means finding gloves, mask, sprayer, solution, and the directions. Sure, they are all in the garage -- along with 25,347 other items. Here's a fun idea: let's all go on a scavenger hunt in my garage!

Anti-fungal treatment needed.

I am worried about covering The Poinsetter Sisters to get them to bloom for the holidays. They look so happy, healthy and green now -- I don't want them singing the blues. I don't want a repeat of last year, when they didn't bloom and I was too lazy to buy more so I took some fake poinsettia flowers and tied them to the live plants so it would almost look like they flowered. Toooo lame .....

The Poinsetter Sisters

What concerns me most is carving out space with enough light for the two scheffleras, which are now seven feet tall, and the split-leaf philodendron affectionately known as The Goddess. What they all really need is a spacious solarium or conservatory which also has a hot tub, large Tv and Wi-fi.

                                 The Goddess, so nicknamed because her branches reach out like a multi-armed deity.                              

On the bright side, I am eagerly awaiting the blossoming of my mystery plant. Several autumns ago I bought a purple-and-white aster and planted it by the driveway. Something always sprouted there every spring but was subsequently devoured by critters such that I'm no longer sure if it's actually the aster. So this year I dug it up and potted it. I am hoping the emerging buds don't shrivel and drop off since I've put time and effort into this plant's survival even if its foliage doesn't look so good. I am also hoping this doesn't turn out to be some random weed that I've been nurturing.

Mystery Plant

Taking care of plants is a long-term commitment, but it gives me great pleasure to walk into a room alive with the colors and fragrances of photosynthesis. Ok, I over-anthropomorphize but they do seem to appreciate the TLC, often putting out blossoms when I'm out of town for a stretch. It's like they are welcoming me back home. Or maybe they are just having fun while I'm not around ....
















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How to Pick a Peach

We finally got around to peach picking. Procrastinating worked in our favor this year since peach-ripening overlapped with the ripening of Mac, Gala and Seek No Further apples at one of our favorite orchards. So we are actually ahead of schedule when it comes to picking apples.

If you are looking for an agri-tourist destination for your family, this orchard is not the place to go. It's called the Nicewicz Family Orchard in Bolton, Mass. They pronounce it NEE-shway, but I like to call it the Nice Witch Orchard. That's how I would personally pronounce Nicewicz if it were my name .... In fact, I may change the pronunciation of Gasdaska to 'Nicewitch.'

We know a half-dozen ways of getting to the Nice Witch Orchard because we've tried them all. My favorite route involves what I think is the intersection of Peach Hill Road, Peach Orchard Road, Orchard Road and Orchard Hill Road. Which is which? Don't ask me. I'm too busy looking for Whaddayacallit Road which is listed as Waddaquadock Road on Google maps. Look, I'm pretty sure 'Waddaquadock' is pronounced 'Whaddayacallit' ....

The people at Nicewiecz are really, er, nice which makes us feel welcome. I always starve myself before picking there because they encourage you to sample the fruit. 'Find a tree you like!' they tell us. They also taught us the proper, no-squeeze method to pick a peach: Thread the stem through your fingers, cupping the top of the fruit, then pull down.

It was hard to stop grazing on the peaches and switch to apples. Our bags (and stomachs) filled in about 15 minutes and we never did find the Seek No Further trees. Maybe they were behind the Hide n Seek trees. On Hide N Seek Orchard Hill Road.

How do you like them apples? These Galas were beautiful, juicy, crunchy and sweet.

So we bought some onions and corn while hearing about how construction on the new barn was delayed again this season in favor of watering the trees amid the summer drought. The knowledgeable farm stand employee also packed us a SWAG bag of nectarines and Asian pears to enjoy.

Peachy, right? 

The most challenging part of fruit picking involves getting the produce home intact on roads named with words like Hill, Steep, Orchard, Winding, and Narrow. We found that the best method to keep the fruit from rolling out of the bag and under the brake pedal is to strap the bags in the back seat. Lap and shoulder restraints for precious cargo. Airbags on stand-by.

We made it home without damage, but recalculating our total expenditure revealed we underpaid. I think I was so involved in conversation with the farm stand employee I gave her money for an incomplete tally. It was only short by three bucks, but I still feel terrible considering she was so helpful and nice which makes me wish I could simultaneously do arithmetic and be nice which I am just realizing she couldn't do either.

We do plan on returning this season for more apples so I will be sure to make good. Meanwhile, I have successfully deflected family requests for pies and tarts by waving my swollen thumb with its mean-looking puncture wound which I really didn't self-inflict in order to get out of pie-making although that sounds like a good plan now that I think about it. As Peachy Carnehan from Kipling's 'The Man Who Would Be King' said,

'Let us seek safety on the battlefield.'

... It's too bad the Nicewicz Family Orchard's Web page is experiencing technical difficulties or I would include a link. It's located on Sawyer Hill Road in Bolton. I could post directions, but that won't help you much. Trust me. The GPS lady has suffered a loss in credibility too ever since she started sending tourists to Walden Pond in Lynn instead of Concord. I am afraid trying to program the aforementioned four-way intersection might bring down a satellite.

However, if you wander around the higher elevations of Worcester or Middlesex County no doubt you will stumble across one orchard or another. The peaches will be good for another few weeks, so even if you get lost at least you won't starve to death.

'Ol' poor Peachy, who never done them any harm, just hung there ....'

Go read Kipling ....

















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