The calendar says fall, but here in Healdsburg, the garden doesn’t always get the message right away. There may still be tomatoes on the vine and warm afternoons ahead. At the same time, the cooler mornings have me thinking about what could grow next.

That’s one of the things I love about living in Sonoma County: our outdoor spaces change with the seasons, but we don’t have to stop enjoying them when summer ends.

If your vegetable beds are looking a little tired, start by clearing out plants that have finished producing and pulling the weeds that somehow never take a season off. Add a layer of good compost before planting again. It’s a simple bit of care that helps prepare the soil for what comes next.

For a fall garden, think leafy greens and other cool season vegetables you’ll actually want to bring into the kitchen. Lettuce, chard, kale, and radishes can make a garden feel productive again. Fava beans are another option for the months ahead. If you’re hoping for broccoli or cauliflower, look for healthy young plants at a local nursery and ask what will do well in your particular spot. A sunny, sheltered yard in Healdsburg may behave differently from a cooler property only a few miles away.

Keep an eye on the weather, too. A September hot spell can be hard on new seedlings, so they may need a little protection and attentive watering while they settle in. And as the days get shorter, planting sooner gives many crops more time to grow before winter.

I often talk with buyers about kitchens, views, and floor plans. But a home’s outdoor space matters just as much to the way we live. A few raised beds near the kitchen, a path through the garden, or a place to sit with a cup of coffee can turn an ordinary yard into a part of daily life.

You don’t need acres to enjoy that feeling. A small, well-tended garden can be one of the most rewarding corners of a Sonoma County home. So before you put away your gardening gloves for the year, take another look outside. Your garden may have one more season to give.