I just realized that I missed my garden update last week. I've been missing a lot of things lately. The migraines have been coming every second day since the tail end of August, and that sort of pattern wipes me out. Understandably, I haven't been so vigilant in the garden. And, well, for a while there it seemed as if my herbs were suppressing the weeds, so I sat back and enjoyed the break. But as the season approaches its end, the weeds are fighting back. I've got this sole photo as proof for the rest of the garden is so overgrown that it's hard to distinguish from the background.

My echinacea bloomed. If there is one plant I am truly glad to have, echinacea misses out on the top spot because calendula forever has my heart. These echinacea blossoms are gorgeous. I don't use them for anything and the root won't be ready until next year, so these are for pure enjoyment. The monarchs love them, and the bumblebees. Every time I visit the garden I watch the insects and feel thankful for flowers and friends who give flowers. Then I pick some more yarrow and clary sage and squirrel it away for herb bundling.

I gave my perennial culinary herbs a good trim, the last of the season so they can recover before winter sets in. There's time enough to mulch them. I still have to dig up the ashwaghanda root, and I want to collect several more heads of calendula seeds to save. Other than that, winter will cause my garden to die back. Most of the plants are native perennials; they'll be fine. I've got tentative plans for next year too. Fewer borage plants (just one, I think), more calendula, and some plot rearranging. It will be time to dig up the biennials too. But for now, rest! Rest is in order, and it sounds good.