This time of year, ones thoughts turn to the harvest, abundance, and gratitude.  Looking around my garden there are many things that are thriving and ready to harvest.  This year my little Buddha's Hand tree, Citrus medica, has only one fruit on it. But this is the largest one it has ever grown with too many to count “fingers”.  The plant is grown mostly for its rind that is full of citrus oil.  I love to display them on my kitchen counter and enjoy the scent.  

Buddha's Hand Tree. photos by Karen Metz

My Lemon Grass, Cymbopogon citratus, is looking perky in the raised bed.  It seems to have enjoyed the rain.  This perennial grass is very attractive and the stalks are used in many Asian cuisines and as flavorings for tea.

Lemongrass

Lemon Balm, Melissa officinalis, is making a lush reappearance.  It had been beautiful in the spring, but had died back to the ground in the heat of summer.  As this plant is in the Mint family, I have to work hard to keep it in check.  This herb has a wonderful calming lemon scent.  I dry the leaves to put in potpourri. My Lemon-lime scented geranium, Pelargonium crispum is growing well in its little pot.  I will cut him back a bit and dry his leaves for potpourri, as well.

Lemon Balm

Lemon Scented Geranium

In organizational categories they say people are either lumpers or splitters.  I guess I must be a lumper.  I have a tendency to want to group things together.  The plants in my November harvest all have the scent of lemon, although only one is a true citrus.  In contrast, my October harvest I lumped together as Shades of Green.  That harvest included Pineapple Guava, Acca sellowiana; Crabapple, Malus; Key Lime, Citrus aurantifolia; mini sweet pepper, Capsicum annum; and Tomatillo, Physalis philadelphica. All were wonderful things to eat.

Lemon Scented Geranium

In the garden, each month has its gifts. Some months have stunning visual beauty.  Others have intoxicating scents, while still others have delicious flavors for us to taste.  Some incredible months have all three.  But some months are quieter, their gifts more subtle; the patter of rain on leaves or the glimpse of a bird amidst stark branches.  For all these gifts, I am grateful.