Want to drive to Smith with me? Great! Hop in. I like and don’t like this drive. I can’t wait to see what good things are happening in the garden, but I worry about what bad things might be happening. I drink a weird cocktail of anticipation and dread on this three mile drive to visit the largest of my three gardens. Can’t wait to see what’s up, what’s doing well, what’s thriving. I also fear the worst. Darn it that I live three miles away! A garden is supposed to be in your back yard. Who knows what maurading bugs might have been munching unchecked for the two or three days since I’ve been here? Plants aren’t exactly like, say, babies, but they do need regular weeding, regular pinching, regular, well, tending.
O.K., here we are. Let’s go talk a look. As long as I’ve tended a garden, I’ve loved giving tours of it.
Lush green Smith
Wow. You can see from here that Smith is going gangbusters. So lush and green, most everything is looking pretty good. As usual, I planted most things too close together. Maybe it’s my inexperience, maybe optimism, maybe sloppiness. What? Did you say a little of all three? O.K., you’ve got a point. The plus side is that close-growing plants discourage weed growth and help keep water from evaporating from the surface too quickly.
A gift from last year
Look at the volunteer sunflower! It’s almost eight feet tall. Sort of grabs your attention, huh? I allowed some plants to go to seed last year and now I’m reaping the benefit. Not even my spring cultivation disrupted the seeds that must have lain exposed on the ground all winter. And see those vines? Not only did I get these three or four bonus sunflowers, but look at the pole beans growing up them! I’m amazed to see them so vigorously twining up these tall stems, ready-made poles for them to climb on. Last year, the pole beans were 8 feet from where these volunteers are growing. How did they move to this spot? What’s that, you ask? The word volunteer? Oh, I was raised with it. My mother and her mother used that word for plants that grew from seed dropped by last year’s plants. Yeah, I agree. The word does sound quaint and old-timey.
The gardener's babies are growing up
Squash running amok at the feet of the corn
Hey, look at the corn. First time I’ve ever grown it. I staggered three plantings over two weeks so it doesn’t all ripen at once. We’ll see how that goes. Honestly, I sometimes think the corn is watching us, it has such a presence. Doesn’t it feel like those muscular plants could surround us if they wanted? Look down, see? There, and there and there, crammed in at the base of the corn, butternut squash plants are practically bursting out of the ground. I hope they cohabit happily with their taller brothers. I worry that one will choke the other out. Such violent language in this peaceful garden. I’m pleased the volunteer beans have made this a true succotash. I feel like a Pilgrim. Or maybe one of the Indians who taught them the value of growing squash, beans, and corn together.
First Cuke: Rare Gift
Across the path are unruly cucumber vines. See? I planted these as an afterthought, intending my main cucumber plot to be at the Lorelei, but look at them now! I didn’t even order these; the seed company was out of the bush cuke seeds I wanted, so they sent these instead and I thought what the heck and just stuck ’em in the ground. But look, see how some of the leaves are wilting? I learned too late that cucumber beetles (I’ve come to realize I have quite an infestation here) carry bacteria that causes wilt. Once they get to this point, it’s too late. I’m hoping I’ll get cucumbers for awhile from the other plants before they succumb too. Oh my gosh! Look! A cucumber already! I had no idea I would get one so soon. Some veggies are truly different eaten fresh from a garden compared to storebought. Cucumbers are one, so crisp and sweet and juicy and, if everything went the way it was supposed to, not bitter.
Welcome to the Jungle!
Unplanted by the gardener
I call this land the Tomato Amazon. I really planted them close together, but they’re going gangbusters. Look at all the blossoms and at the little green baby tomatoes. When these beauties ripen, we’re going to be inundated, a “problem” I would welcome. Next to the tomato jungle I’ve got another volunteer pole bean. I may get a mess or two of beans from these volunteers alone. Look at all the blossoms, and the riot of vines, stretching up into the wild blue younder.
Treasure chest full of gold
I especially wanted to show you this pepper plant! It’s covered with yellow beauties, easily three dozen, maybe more. I think they’re like those savory pepperocini peppers you get with pizzas, but funny thing, I don’t remember planting that kind. This is sort of a mystery to me. What I did plant a ton of, Anaheim peppers for pickling, are just starting to set. In my experience, pepper plants either burst with fruit or they languish. I think a key is making sure they get enough to drink when they’re blossoming. You want a couple of these peppers? Help yourself.
Scarlet beauties
Look at this exotic thing, almost six feet tall now. It’s a castor bean plant. I love the variety it adds to the garden, the splash of scarlet and red, the dramatic spined seed pods. On the downside, the plant is rather poisonous. We’re a little concerned about that and hope no children come along and eat any of it, though frankly, it doesn’t look too edible to me. Actually, it looks a little forbidding. I’ve wondered if, on a homestead, I could grow a field of these and press the beans for the oil which is flammable and could be burned in lamps.
Flowers, produce, sweet potato vines, wilty cucumber vines
Tour’s about finished. Pretty nice out here, huh? I wanted to show you some flowers I planted though they aren’t flowering yet. I like growing blossoming plants with the vegetables. Adds to the beauty of the place. A garden is like an empty canvas and I’m the painter. I plant things in arrangements and positions to look good as well as grow well. Am I wacky?
So glad you joined me today. Hey, I’ve got an idea. Let’s grab some of the wild mint that’s growing everywhere around here and have some mint juleps back at the house. It’s the perfect way to cool down after being in the garden.
