When you're known to be avid gardeners, friends and acquaintances frequently ask, "How's the garden?" Usually these inquiries come in spring, when there is enthusiasm for the planting season, or in early-mid summer, as folks want to compare yields. You may laugh, but it's a pattern. Here we are in early September, and we have yet to get the aforementioned inquiry once since July. Admittedly, our excitement, too, seems strongest about the growing seasons in the spring, and rightfully so, as we usually endure a thaw out in Pennsylvania for months. Beautiful flowers, strawberries and tender greens surely drive a bullish feeling for getting into the dirt!
Now it's September. What about the garden? Well, it's a little complicated. This spring we decided to sow out a stock pile of old seeds, including varieties of flowers and vegetables. In addition, we chose to skip planting the usual summer veggies like tomatoes, peppers, etc. We focused on grooming the perennial garden for next season. We used some of the time saved to share strawberry plants and runners with friends. We found ourselves busy in the garden all summer, though, even without regularly weeding the ground veggies or stringing up tomato plants. To be fair, we had a wonderful spring harvest from the stock pile of seeds mentioned earlier. Many of those rewards made it to the freezer. And, the beauty of flowers took center stage.
Oh yeah, September? Thanks for asking. The garden is close to its resting place for winter. The strawberry plants are almost groomed for hibernation, and the asparagus ferns are flourishing and await cutting back. That's about it, except we've noticed a couple of gifts, including a few ripe volunteer tomatoes and a volunteer wax bean plant from prior years. A visit from our daughter was perfectly timed last week to share a favorite in the household: tomato sandwiches! The garden seems good this September.
Peace and love ~ Dean and Vicki
