Food for Thought – Garden Neglect
July 2, 2011 • Food for Thought
It’s July and if you can believe it, I’ve only been in my gardens once. I feel guilty. I feel unworthy of the produce it’s going to give me. I’ve just been busy – a college reunion trip starting in Philadelphia, a visit to my son’s in NY, a 21st birthday celebration for my daughter in San Francisco, kids’ summer cooking lessons starting up, helping my oldest son finish a reflooring project, a bunch of volunteer work for Cooking Matters. So here my Knockout roses sit, already on their second bloom and I haven’t trimmed off the first dead rose hips. My mother the rosarian and master gardener would be ashamed to claim me as her daughter.
I’ve been so busy that I’ve scarcely noticed the massive crop of Italian plums my two little trees are working on.
And I certainly didn’t take the time to stake up those small branches that are so heavy with fruit they’re almost lying on the ground.
The last time I glanced in the vegetable garden the kale had just sprouted – now here it stands, demanding to be harvested before it goes to seed.
I didn’t take the time to notice how pitiful my tomato plants look this year. Whether I planted them too early, they were crummy plants, or they are unhappy with me will remain a mystery, but for the first time in years, I have puny plants with almost no tomatoes. Is it too late to start again with new plants?
Had I taken the time to weed the garden I would have noticed the nasty weeds choking out my scallions and planted more seeds, since I have so few of them sprouting up.
In true style, the zucchini plants that were mere 2 inch sprouts the last time I walked around the side of the house are now enormous and proudly displaying a ton of blossoms and even some small zucchini already. I had no idea how busy they had been in my absence.
But thanks to the warm Colorado sun, some nice rain showers, a sprinkler system, and plenty of worms, bees and lady bugs, nature plods along, perhaps somewhat annoyed with us for not helping out, but willing to produce nonetheless. It’s a beautiful thing, isn’t it?
Comments
7 Comments • Comments Feed
kellypea @ sass & veracity says:
That is some garden you’ve got! And I’m impressed with the fact that even though you’ve had so much going on (seriously!) it’s doing so well. Good luck on showers for us, and barring drip lines, ours is all hand watered which is fine for its size. Gorgeous photos!
July 2, 2011 at 1:44 pm
Lea Ann says:
Not to mention our cold weather and late start to planting. I just planted three more tomato plants last week. I’m hoping we have a long Fall.
July 3, 2011 at 11:24 am
Michele says:
Lea Ann, I’m with you – let’s hope fall makes up for spring!
July 3, 2011 at 5:09 pm
Barbara | Creative Culinary says:
After last summer, when I literally NEVER stepped foot in my yard or garden, I was dreading this season, fearful even. Though my young caretaker who helped last year does an OK job, it’s not the same as my very focused attention. I will say I’ve had the best weed crop ever and if Toni were closer, it could be called a veggie garden but beyond dealing with that…it is quite amazing how everything has come around and bloomed so profusely.
I’m envious of your fruit and veggies; I’m just doing herbs this year, but I’ll enjoy yours from afar through your photos…just beautiful.
July 3, 2011 at 12:23 pm
Michele says:
Barb, Italian plum trees can be bought pretty small and cheap and I found produce fruit from day one – I take the huge harvest and dry most of them – delicious!!!
July 3, 2011 at 5:09 pm
Jenny @ Savour the Senses says:
I am jealous. I just spent two days weeding my garden and my tomatoes are still tiny, my zucchini do not have flours, and 5 of our plants have died- including both bell peppers =(
July 3, 2011 at 5:01 pm
Michele says:
Jen, my tomatoes are still small too – don’t give up on the garden! XO
July 3, 2011 at 5:10 pm