Autumn Joy

Cynthia Brian
Oct 3
5 min read

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

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As other parts of the country begin their garden dormancy, in Northern California’s zones 9-9b, we are fortunate to enjoy another month of beautiful weather and gardening gratification. We are delighting in picnics, barbecues, swimming, and cartwheels on the lawn. Our mild Mediterranean climate brings us a rich harvest of Asian pears, apples, grapes, figs, berries, and heirloom tomatoes.

Fall is a magical time of the year when the light is softer, herbal fragrances are stronger, and leaves begin their slow journey into colorful tapestries of vivid ruby, gold, and persimmon.

At a plant sale in March, I purchased several small seedlings of various heirloom tomatoes. The plants grew steadily throughout spring and early summer, but it wasn’t until earlier last month that tiny green fruit appeared behind the pollinated flowers. With cooler days this summer compared to the previous year, it is only now that my heirlooms are slowly ripening. After six months of caring, watching, and anticipating, the wait has been worth it.

I am a tomato snob and will only eat homegrown fruit. With a snip of a basil leaf, I pick both the sugary red and yellow cherry tomatoes, savoring my treats as I sit amongst the tangled vines. Sun Gold and Crimson Cherry both have high healthy antioxidants. Often, I’ll pinch a bit of garlic chive to add to the mix. Dining al frescowithout a fork is enchanting, while watching the bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds buzz and flit between the late bloomers.

The Black Krim heirloom tomato is one of my favorites. These beautiful maroon and brown colored beefsteaks are bountiful, sweet, yet spicy. They taste delicious alone or splashed with olive oil and balsamic. I prefer them raw and haven’t used them to make any sauces. Other varieties, like Roma or San Marzano, are better utilized for cooking.

Fall is a lovely time to travel as the crowds have disappeared, yet the weather is pleasant. My husband and I traveled to San Antonio, Texas, to celebrate a milestone anniversary. It was our first time in this city. We stayed on the Riverwalk, where glorious, gigantic hundred to four hundred years old cypress trees grow.

The cyrpess trees improve the water quality as they filter pollutants, and act as a flood control species by slowing floodwaters. Because of their extensive root systems, they stabilize shorelines and reduce erosion. Whether looking up from below or viewing their canopies from above, the cypress trees are uniquely impressive.

The Golden Shrimp plant, which grows well in Lamorinda in the summer months, was planted throughout the Riverwalk gardens. It is a Hardiness zone 9 plant that thrives in heat and humidity. San Antonio has both. Because it is a tropical plant, in our area, we need to bring it indoors or apply mulch to protect it from frost or colder temperatures.

Another beautiful heat-loving shrub that I admired throughout San Antonio was the Texas native, Esperanza, or Yellow Bells (Tecoma stans). It boasts bright yellow bell-shaped flowers that attract hummingbirds and bees. It flourished everywhere throughout the landscapes.

When in San Antonio, visiting the Alamo is a must. The Battle of the Alamo occurred from February 23- March 6, 1836, and the true history is much more brutal than the myths and legends we were taught as children or saw in movies. It is appropriate that the hardy perennial, Mexican Petunia, was planted throughout the gardens at the Alamo.

.Walking from the Alamo back to the Riverwalk, we stumbled upon a storefront that was covered in cascading silk flowers. It was a flower wine bar and winery called Florvino, where the wine is made 100% from flowers that grow in Texas.

Being grape growers, we were intrigued, although there are no grapes in their wines. Wildflower nectar, rosehips, parsley, cardamom, and flower petals ferment in each process to create their six signature wines that include Jasmine, Dandelion (Dande), Hibiscus (Glory-Texas Pride), Peach Blossom (Peaches), Wild Rose (Wild Rosy), and their Texas YeeHaa (Cowboy Sangria made from apples and Black Currants). This was a fun, cool, and unexpected detour on an extremely hot and humid afternoon.

Autumn is a time for joy with many festivals and harvest fairs. Our Be the Star You Are!® booth at the Pear and Wine Festival was a success. I provided numerous seeds from my garden for our fun craft, “Plant the Seeds of Literacy”. Adults and children took home seeds of vegetables, herbs, and flowers to plant in their gardens. The festival was filled with music, food, art, crafts, contests, play, activities, pear pies, and drinks. Thanks to the Lamorinda Weekly, M.B. Jessee Painting, and StarStyle® Productions, LLC for booth sponsoring. https://www.bethestaryouare.org/events-1/2025-pear-and-wine-festival.

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Bask in the glory of fall and enjoy the abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Happy Gardening. Happy Growing!

Goddess Gardener Guide for Fall

ü MOVE baskets and pots to a shady area when the Indian summer is hottest.

ü PRUNE your berry vines hard after you have harvested the fruit for easier picking next season.

ü ORDER spring bulbs from catalogs now for planting in November.

ü PROPAGATE geranium and pelargonium by cutting back no-blooming stems and planting in damp soil.

ü CHECK around your house for fire hazards and flammable materials. October is the height of fire season.

ü RAKE your leaves into a compost pile. Add lawn clippings, eggshells, food scraps (no meat), and coffee grounds. Stupendous soil will be ready to use before the holidays.

ü FERTILIZE plants in the landscape.

ü APPLY snail bait to plants susceptible to snail and slug damage.

ü SPRAY viburnums, roses, and crape myrtle for powdery mildew. If aphids are discovered on any plants, use a concoction of dish soap and water in a spray bottle to soak the leaves.

ü DEADHEAD roses to keep them blooming through winter.

ü CUT BACK herbaceous plants like salvias, annuals, and perennials.

ü CONTINUE to water deeply as the heat will continue through October.

ü HARVEST apples, Asian pears, figs, and grapes as needed.

ü PICK UP any fallen fruit to discourage scavengers and pests.

ü BUY six packs of snapdragons for garden color throughout the spring to winter seasons. Six packs were my favorite fall plant purchase in 2024 and are still blooming!

ü PLANT “Autumn Joy” sedum to experience the joy of autumn!

For more seasonal gardening tips and inspiration, grab a copy of Growing with the Goddess Gardener at https://www.CynthiaBrian.com/books. Raised in Napa County vineyards, Cynthia Brian is a New York Times best-selling author, actor, radio personality, speaker, media and writing coach, as well as the Founder and Executive Director of Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3, named the 2024 Nonprofit of the Year by the Moraga Chamber of Commerce.https://www.BetheStarYouAre.org. Tune into Cynthia’s StarStyle® Radio Broadcast at https://www.StarStyleRadio.com. Her best-selling children’s series, Stella Bella’s Barnyard Adventures, is available at https://www.CynthiaBrian.com/online-store. Book Four, Flap Forward, Fly Free, is available NOW at a pre-sale discount.