Waning Day

Lughnasa                     Waning Artemis Moon

The evening of a fine day is a silk garment laid on to welcome the night.  It caresses, soothes.  It wraps itself around the shoulders and extends a brief embrace as light fades and the stars come out.  It is, as my ancestors knew, a sacred time.

These days of September are the evening of the growing season, a transition to the colder, fallow season of late fall and early winter.  I’m glad they’re here.

As with each day, each week, each month of the growing season there are tasks appropriate to the time.  Here are a few of the ones we have left:

Garden

  • put a riser on the irrigation head nearest the deck
  • put composted manure and/or compost on the raised beds
  • Weed  perennials
  • harvest potatoes, beets, greens, tomatoes
  • save seeds:  tomatoes
  • plant bulbs
  • plant garlic
  • transplant:  gooseberries, hosta, bugbane
  • black plastic and mulch along truck path

Bees

  • sample for varroe mites and nosema
  • check honey and pollen supply
  • feed if necessary
  • in november prepare for winter