The autumnal abundance of Indian summer

Autumn is harvest time: The branches of the fruit trees bend under their rich load, the farmers bring in the last hay, the cows, sheep and goats enjoy the exercise on the lush meadows. On the hike from Haslen via Horgenbüel to Enggenhütten and from there via Rüti back to Haslen, agriculture is omnipresent. And between Inner- and Outer Rhodes flow the Buechbach and Sitter. The Appenzeller Hinterland and Mittelland are actually considered too rough, too cool and too humid for (cultivated) fruit growing. What grows here is at best suitable for cider or distillery. And not always in profitable quantities. Plums, pears and apples grow in abundance, the branches have to be supported with wooden slats because of the weight of the ripe fruits. The forest edges also show a berry-like opulence with blackberries, rose hips and black elderberry.