Well into autumn

Now a full month after equinox, the clocks have changed--it feels like we've lost so much light.  Tonight sunset was before 5pm, and it's only going to get darker.

The garden is mostly asleep now, both edible and ornamental.  I've still got runner bean pods maturing on their vines and there are a few leeks, kale and chard, but I've let the ducks have the full run of the vegetable patch to tidy it (or flatten it at least).  There are still some cherry tomatoes on the patio still, though the plants are mostly brown and leafless. 

Our mature horse chestnut tree is losing leaves, and some of the fruit trees are starting to turn too.  The son has gone out with the loppers and cut down the old growth from the artichokes (plenty of new growth at the bottom though), and the husband dug up the (small) Jerusalem artichokes, though we haven't eaten any yet.  The grass is very very short now, and the chickens are only allowed about half an hour a day on it;  soon they may not be allowed on it at all.

And the chickens and ducks aren't laying much now.  Maybe one egg per week from the ducks and one per day from the chickens (though not the same color every day).  Surprisingly, the boy chicks are still being quiet--they're still growing, and I don't expect their sisters to start laying till at least January.  I expect egg production to stop any day now (and roosters to start crowing too).