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Hurray! The equinox has passed and the days are officially getting shorter! That means average daily temperature begins to fall, cooling the soil and providing a bit of relief from this difficult summer.

Mint -- mmmmm!

Now's a great time to work in the herb garden. Remember, herbs need good drainage. If your soil drains too slowly, incorporate organic matter (see Soil Renovation, below). If you fertilize at all, use only a very dilute solution, perhaps half-strength. Most herbs won't require lots of fertilizer.  

Perfect Papershell Parsley

Some herbs to plant in the fall include chervil (from seed), chives, cilantro or coriander, dill, fennel (bronze and sweet), mints, parsley, rosemary and thyme. These herbs thrive with the onset of a little cooler weather. 

Have you seen them? This is the time of year when grackles, cowbirds, starlings and blackbirds begin their annual assemblies in parking lots, yards & parks. Although these birds are year-round residents in our area, the fall weather brings their migrating cousins from the northern states and Canada for a visit.  

Common Grackle

These winter flocks can be huge, numbering in the millions of individuals.  They typically forage for food on the ground and eat just about anything they find, including acorns! Though they're regarded as a nuisance, both grackles and cowbirds are quite handsome, and display lots of personality as they preen and strut. You'll often see them snatching bits of dog food or stale bread and softening them in water before eating.

Brown-Headed Cowbird

During late fall and early winter, you'll often see huge flocks of assorted blackbirds rising up from fields, where they've been eating waste grain after the harvest. There's a degree of safety in numbers in these huge flocks -- many thousands of eyes are watching for predators, allowing the birds more time to feed.