The Autumn Harvest

 The front vegie patch in all its oversized grandness. I am loving our sawdust paths.

 These Giant Russian Sunflowers are on steroids - around 7 foot and still growing.

The fence patch is close to trees, less rich, and drier and will take more improving before it does well.  The choko has died, and the spaghetti squash are only few in number.  The loofah looks happy but hasn't flowered yet so I imagine it will remain loofah less.  The scarlet runner beans re-emerged from last years crop and have been giving but not abundant.

The zuchinnis didn't like all the rain (at least 150mm in the last week).  They have become mouldy and slowed in production.  This is a blessing as I believe we may have turned a shade of green and gold (just in time for the Olympic Games) if we continued to eat them at the same rate. Such a small area for so much food. This many plants easily overfeeds a family of 5, and all their extended family, and non zuchinni growing friends. There is a very happy mulberry tree in the middle that like all the food and water it received over summer, a great way to establish a new fruit tree.

Just made a big batch of zuchinni pickles, more fritters, and gave away a bagful to the family yet still they linger, bulging out of their bowls.

 The potato patch keeps giving. Passionfruit planted at the start of summer and winding their way upwards.

Smaller sunflowers grow a 1/3 of the size in a shadier part of the garden. These ones came up from last years crop.

The corn and sunflowers stand seeking golden rays but the cooler weather and cloudy days persist.  I've never know Autumn to strike so quickly. My heart goes out to all those suffering from floods right now.

Mondays harvest, a beautiful rainbow of vegie delights.

The carrot patch keeps on giving.

Sweet delicious corn should keep us in food during March.

Crunchy stringless Bush beans, wish I'd written down what they were, such pretty pink seeds and my favourite bush bean to date.

 My cockatoo friends have struck again. This sunflower had barely unfurled its petals before receving a chomp. It's still beautiful with all it's imperfections.  The head is too large to sit up and bends forward forlornly, perhaps hiding its bounty from maraudering birds.

No pears for us this year, the Rosellas took a particular fancy to these. 

At least we had plenty of white nectarines, I am eating them stewed for breakfast, they quickly go mouldy unless you use them within a few days of picking.

So happy with the vegie patch this year, it has never been so productive.