Last Harvest

Santa Cruz Mountains

The last of autumn’s harvest. Squashes and pumpkins abound. Apples picked and Brussels sprouts stalks cut. Cold weather greens like kale and chard appear again.

Winter squash in endless varieties decorate homes in harvest tones, to be slowly consumed throughout late autumn and winter. Pumpkins, with thinner skins, are best eaten first.

Chrysanthemums, preferring cooler temperatures, burst into enthusiastic bloom.

As most harvests end, so the citrus harvest begins. Limes are particularly prolific, to be followed by lemons, oranges, and tangerines throughout the cold months.

The last coreopsis waves a cheery goodbye to the fruitful season of 2018. Crisp, dormant seed pods promise the fresh bloom of summer color next year.