Alright, I know that it is the end of the month and you have not heard from us in awhile, but we have been very busy laying down the foundation for the coming fall and I'm excited to say we have some fantastic things planned. But before we start looking too far ahead in the future we have some great things happening on the farm right now. First, this is the perfect time to get some sweet juicy peaches for canning or just for eating. Second, we have just started picking apples and one of the first apples to come in is also one of the best, Honey Crisp. Finally, just around the corner is Le Tour de Plants and those of you who participated in this event last year know just how fun and fruitful this event truly is and what great deals you can get.

Elberta peaches have always been touted as one of the best peaches to can and fortunately they have finallyarrived. Unfortunately, they are only here for a limited time. Time always seems to fly by and this year has been no exception. We have been enjoying fresh juicy peaches for several weeks now and the Elbertas are one of the last peaches to come on. Therefore, if you want to get some peaches canned this year then I would suggest coming in soon because just like the rest they will be gone fast. In addition to peaches we also have Bartlett Pears available and beans and cucumbers for canning. You can always call ahead and have any of these set aside if you need a large amount for canning.

Just as the peaches are winding down for the year the Apple crop is just beginning. One of our favorite varieties is called Honey Crisp and has some of the best traits of many other apples wrapped up into one complete package. Honey Crisp is, as its name implies, a very crisp apple and most important it seems to hold that crispness for a long time. So many of the early apples are very crisp right off the tree but give them a couple weeks and they lose that crispness. In addition, Honey Crisp has a wonderful flavor. It has a sweet taste that finishes with that tart apple flavor that so many of us look for when picking an apple. Talking about an apple this way sounds more like we are discussing a fine wine but trust me this apple is worth it. We just started picking them and we should have them until about the end of October, but don't wait too long because once they are gone you will wish that you had gotten more.

Le Tour des Plants is now an annual event held in the middle of Sept. every year and is coordinated by the Oregon Association of Nurseries (OAN). Last year was the first year of the tour and no one had any idea what to expect or what was really going on for that matter. Those of you who took a chance and participated in the event were not disappointed. Le Tour des Plants is put on by the OAN and from Sept 15 through the 23 you will find exceptional deals, informative seminars, and lots of extra bonuses at 35 different garden centers around Oregon. This year Bauman's will have a number of activities going on during the tour and rather than tell you about all of them now I will send out another newsletter the week before the event and lay out all the activities for you. But for now mark the date on your calendars and get ready for a great time at garden centers around Oregon.

With October just around the corner we have so many things to look forward to on the farm, but we can't forget about all the wonderful produce, plants and baked goods that are on the farm right now. If you plan on doing any canning then now is the time to get that done, if you wait too much longer than you will be out of luck for this year. The first of the fall apples have started to arrive and one of our favorites, Honey Crisp, are already picked and waiting for you. Don't forget to mark your calendar for the Le Tour des Plants, which runs from Sept. 15 through the 23. Enjoy the last days of summer and we look forward to seeing you soon.