thirty two days

a month ago the jerusalem artichokes were in full bloom and looking every bit the member of the sunflower family they are...today the blooms are gone and the vigor of a month ago is fading as the plants' energy is absorbed in setting tubers..fall impinges ( top photo in each pair is from july twenty-sixth...the bottom photo is from today )...the cucumber/bean wall looks fundamentally the same...but the cucumbers are weary and the geraniums on the right hand side of the box aren't feeling so hot either...there are still lots of beans to harvest in there and the vines continue to bloom...and that will continue for some time yet...but the overall picture is one of increasing fatigue...i see fall green manures and cover crops sooner than later.