I love the month of August. I love knowing that the frenzy of summer is drawing to a close, and that cooler weather and many festivals that I love dearly are in store. All of this begins, here, with blackberries, wild and sweet. I admit, I was a little early (they’ll be much better next week), but once I began to see some ripening, I couldn’t resist. My favorite herald of the changing of the seasons.

Looking for the ripest ones.

Thistles just beginning to lose their lavender fluff.

A handful of late summer.

Wild rosehips (we’ll be back for these — rosehip tea!).

Almost really ready.

Just enough jam…

to have over ice cream, with sliced peaches, fresh from the farmers’ market. Yum.