Commencement

Arugula, leaf and head lettuce, string beans, tomatoes, onions all are thriving and rotating harvest has commenced.  Not the conclusion of a career, but the start of the enjoyment of the effort.  Looking upon that over which we have toiled, given our best care and attention, and about which we have researched and sought to learn about, and seeing it thrive and take flight makes everything worthwhile.

We always have doubts about whether we are smart enough, strong enough, learned enough, correct enough, and committed enough.  But, in the end it is about creating the moment of commencement.  We can fill our hearts knowing that we have set everything in motion, and we may now sit back and enjoy the results.  There will be disappointments -- the arugula is plucked a bit late and is too spicy -- the peppers have been enjoyed by insects before you get to them -- but when we step back and really appreciate the look and taste of the tossed salad we have created, we must rejoice!

Images of Oh- the greenery

This is a form of "square foot gardening" with beets on front right, basil on left, leaf lettuce, mesclun lettuce, peppers and strawberries in the back. 

Hot peppers in the front with sweet peppers to the right and behind.

The wonderful wandering watermelon.

This illustrates progressive planting.  The lettuce in the front was planted in June; the white perlite holds the seeds of the newly planted lettuce that should be ready when the other lettuce has been eaten up. Lastly are the strawberries in the rear.

Up front are two tomato plants.  Behind is a fabulous oregano plant with some grasses and trees interspersed.  The wind catcher adds beautiful color and keeps the birds away!

One of the struggling tomato plants.

These onions have just burst through the soil!

Oh, the greenery

The garden is bursting with green.  The several types of lettuce have grown tall and hearty.  I go out each evening to pick the fresh greens for a salad.  I also clip leaves for use in packing lunches to take to work.  There is nothing better than the strong flavor of fresh arugula.  The beets are growing well.  I was going to thin them but when I look at the base of the plant, it looks like many stalks create one plant.  As I have never grown beets before, I have decided to leave it be and see what happens.  How exciting!

The eggplant has all but expired.  It appears some pest took a liking to the greens.  I sprayed with organic, home-made spray (some liquid soap, water and vinegar), but it may have been too late.  The watermelon is spreading out beautifully and there is one small bud starting.  I have previously had no luck with watermelons but I am hopeful that placing it front and center in full sun will make the difference.

The beans did not make it.  First it was the pests, then I think it was the cold and lack of steady sun.  I have one or two cucumbers that are flourishing in the same trough.  The tomato growth is still stunted.  We now finally have heat and sun, so I am hoping that the tomatoes take off.  Last year we had a bumper crop, this year its a bummer crop!

The carrots -- second planting -- did not make it either.  I have no more seeds and so it seems there will be no carrots.  The zucchini in the side lot this year is doing poorly.  It was droopy and did not really start to grow well.  I cut the artichoke back to the soil which freed up the sprinkler head, the cure for the zucchini I hope.  Although it sounds so pessimistic, the garden is doing great.  I have sweet peppers growing, hot peppers blooming, stevia climbing high, strawberry plants reaching out, onions cresting the top soil and green, green everywhere.

Everything looks wonderful, feels great and tastes even better.

Bouquet from the garden

I grew artichokes and we had a wonderful, sweet harvest.  However, we did not pick some of the flowers fast enough.  I decided to cut the heads and use in an arrangement.  I took other herbs and flowers from the garden and made this organic original.