Golden days in the asparagus bed

      Sadly the local asparagus season is long over, but tucked away in the corner of a field a few of rows of asparagus are having their own private, autumn-hued, psychedelic colouring festival.
      Just like the trees this outburst of autumn colour has only appeared in the last few days, very soon the funny little needles will fall off, the farmer will trim the plants, tidy the rows above the crowns and then we wait. This year the season arrived early because of the dry warm spring. We don't care when it arrives as long as it arrives and when it does it is truly a seasonal treat which, in a way, signals the beginning of the period of plenty.
      Ah well, just like Christmas it'll be on us before we know it but it does highlight the joy of seasonal eating.