The delicate fragrance of the tasseling garden corn lingered invitingly in the evening air as we prepped the flocks for bedtime. During the day, other more robust scents dominated, but that evening held a bit of magic, hinting at the sweet, butter-dipped goodness to come.

I enjoy my yard (when my backside isn't stuck by a computer). 20+ years of planting, building, digging, and experimenting has created something truly unique. It's messy, but you just never know what you'll run into.

For instance, sometimes it's fragrances like that lovely corn smell, or the elder blossoms that are just wrapping up. Other times it's experiences, like the trees being so heavy with dew that they drop an impromptu "rain shower" as you walk by.

There are critters, so many critters, sometimes in unexpected places. This past week, while Duncan was working in the blueberry patch with friends, they spotted a fox snake that had climbed a nearby tree and was heading for a bird nest.

The adult birds were trying to keep it away from the babies, but it was determined. Dunc got the fruit picker and pulled it down to the ground for the time being, but sometimes nature can be harsh. Hopefully the babies will be out of the nest before the snake comes searching again.

Earlier today, I was tending to morning chores when a great blue heron decided to take a stroll through the yard, right next to the house. I've seen them perched on our garden dome, and on top of the workshop, but roaming through the yard was new. I did manage to get a short video of our visitor, which I shared on Facebook.

Harvest season is picking up, with the zucchini living up to their reputation for abundance. I swear I only turned my back on them for two days, and came back to an armful of fruit. The corn isn't quite ready, but the green beans are getting started. (Both got in a little late.) We made up fried okra and stuffed hot peppers for supper last night. Delicious!

We are still very much in need of rain. I'm sure many of the plants are getting most of their moisture from the fog lifting off the ponds and respiration of the thick plant cover. The yard is dealing with the low rainfall much better than in did in our early years here, before the ponds were in and we built up more organic matter in the soil. Management makes a big difference.

This Week’s Resilience & Abundance Boost

• Build buffers before you need them. Mulch, healthy soil, shade, water storage, savings, and a stocked pantry may not seem exciting when everything is going well, but they provide valuable breathing room when conditions get tough.
• Improve one weak spot. You don't need to fix everything at once. Pick one area of your home, garden, finances, or routines that could handle disruption better and make it a little stronger.
• Work with the season. When zucchini is abundant, eat zucchini. When berries ripen, pick berries. Seasonal living helps us appreciate what's available instead of constantly chasing what's not.
• Make room for more life. A water source, native flowers, shrubs, trees, or even a slightly messy corner can provide habitat for an astonishing variety of creatures.
• Stop and experience what you've built. It's easy to spend all our time maintaining, fixing, and planning the next project. Take a few minutes to smell the corn, watch the heron, listen to the birds, or enjoy something fresh from the garden.

Resilience is often the result of small choices compounded over time—and abundance is remembering to enjoy the life those choices helped create.

All our best to you and yours,

Laurie (and August IV, August V, and Duncan)

Making the Most of the Season

Late summer is a season of plenty, but it can also feel like everything needs attention at once. The garden is producing, pollen and dust can make outdoor work less comfortable, and suddenly there are herbs, corn, and zucchini asking to be used. These articles are meant to help you enjoy what’s abundant now, preserve some for later, and make the season a little more manageable.

Breathe a little easier

If late-summer pollen, dust, or garden work has your nose and eyes complaining, this guide shares practical natural allergy relief strategies you can use at home.

Read: Natural Allergy Relief​

Put fresh herbs to work

Fresh herbs can do far more than garnish a plate. Learn easy ways to use them in everyday meals so those garden herbs don’t go to waste.

Read: Cooking with Fresh Herbs​

Save sweet corn for later

When corn is at its best, preserving a little means you can enjoy that summer flavor long after the stalks are gone.

Read: How to Freeze Corn​
​Read: How to Can Corn​

Don’t toss the cobs

After the kernels are eaten or preserved, those corn cobs still have something to offer. Corn cob jelly is an old-fashioned way to turn what might otherwise be discarded into a sweet, golden treat.

Read: Corn Cob Jelly - Traditional and Less Sugar Recipes​

When zucchini needs a disguise

If zucchini season has reached the “now what?” stage, zucchini gummy candy is a fun way to transform oversized squash into a chewy, fruity treat — and it uses a surprising amount of zucchini in the process.

Read: Zucchini Gummy Candy​

​My current "fun" summer read.​