The party's almost over. But this last week of warm sunny days has given us the September we were hoping for -- and didn't get, when rain was washing away the remains of our gardens.

I got two late-season gifts this week. One was an unexpected burst of blooms on one of my black cannas. The leaves are raggedy at this point, but the sunshine coaxed out a final blaze of brilliant red orange blooms.

I'd pretty much given up on seeing any more red tomatoes, figuring I'd have to haul all my green ones inside before the first frost and try to ripen them on my own. But yesterday, there was one perfect rosy tomato waiting for me when I got home from work. I plucked it, along with a few basil leaves, and ate it on the spot. Unbelievable. The best-tasting tomatoes are always the first one -- and the last one.

What final gifts from the garden are you enjoying this week?