October 25

The fall spinach and favas never came up. Sometimes that happens. You try something, and nothing comes of it. And so what do you do? Look at the bare soil? Maybe for a bit. Then look at something else.

The quince tree I planted a few years ago bore for the first time- three big fruits with fuzzy skin. They're on the sill in the dining room, and you can pick them up one by one and put your nose to them. The scent is a joy, and they've also been a joy to see, from papery blossom to big yellow knobs. The trees are small and lovely, so I ordered a second one to put in next spring- a Turkish variety called Ekmek. Maybe something will come of it.

The weather has turned cool and wet. I'm indoors more, but there's plenty of parsley, beets, radishes, and sugarloaf chicory out there. Sugarloaf chicory sounds sweet, but chicory is chicory. There's a reason most people don't grow it. Maybe as the weather turns colder, the leaves will grow milder and my tastes will turn toward the bitter. We'll have to wait and see.