The July Garden: A Saga of Weeds, Bugs, Drought and a Mystery

 

If I had to title this post a week ago, I would have titled it "A Garden of Death". I was feeling that fed up with the weeds, the bugs, the unrelenting heat, and the need to water these beds while fighting an assault of gnats. I feel a little differently about the garden this week. 

The first encouragement came in the form of rain, five days of it. The softened earth enabled me to start getting the weeds up. The plants responded to nature's watering much better than to that of hose water and more produce began ripening for us to use. The ripe tomatoes went into wonderful Panzanella salads and BLT's , we ate freshly cooked beets and green beans, and put fresh basil on everything. I canned salsa and sweet pickle relish and I am getting ready to can jalapeno peach jam. (Steve grows the jalapenos and the peaches are local from Ikenberry's.)

The downside of the garden mainly consist of two things that irk me the most: the weeds that grow in the gravel surrounding the beds and the worms and bugs that destroy the produce. I try to pull the weeds by hand since they are growing around a food source. The weeds are relentless! They consist mainly of purslane, spurge, and oxalis. The purslane and spurge are the worst and HATE them.The only thing I can do is pull and pull and pull. The main pests right now are the tomato horn worms, Japanese beetles, and some invisible bug that makes a perfect hole in the tomato. The worms are camouflaged  by day and easier to hunt after dark by using a black light flashlight. The black light makes the worms glow brighter than the leaves, hence making them easier to spot and pick off. The Japanese beetle population has been reduced by hanging those beetle bag traps a short distance away from the garden. They really work! I did discover one surprise about the bags, though. We had one bag hanging rather low to the ground and some animal came along and bit the bottom of the bag open. I guess it wanted to eat the bugs that were inside. Sigh. We can only keep trying.

Our current dilemma is trying to figure out what is taking bites out of the tomatoes. The round holes are clearly worm or bug made, but we also have nibbles with bite marks made by something with teeth. The garden is surrounded by electric fence for larger animals so it must be something smaller. The bitten tomatoes seem too high up for a rabbit. We have set the game camera out for two nights and spotted nothing on it. Maybe mice climb up to the tomatoes? Do mice even want tomatoes? Whatever it is is very sneaky. I try to pick the tomatoes at first blush but the bites are showing up on green tomatoes, not ripe ones. We may never solve the mystery and by next year's garden, I will have forgotten all about them.

Even though the garden is aggravating, the reward of having pretty jars of preserved goodies and fresh produce on our plates has begun to bring some immediate gratification. Cost wise, growing and preserving from seven raised beds is way more costly than buying the items off the shelf. Not to mention the labor effort, especially of pulling weeds. I really don't know why we do it other than that we always have.  I also have a short memory of all the bad things in gardening. During the winter I will romanticize our lovely garden and start dreaming of what to plant and how lovely it will all be. It will be just like the photos in the plant catalog. I am so gullible when it comes to dreamy, beautiful photos.

In retrospect, it boils down to one thing that keeps us gardening- the salsa. Steve is like a little kid with  his hot pepper powders, sauces, and salsa. He eats salsa or hot pepper sauce or jarred peppers of some sort almost every day. He puts them on everything. Seeing him so happy with such a simple thing makes me willing to do it all over again next year.

A Week with Violet

 

 I had the pleasure of having our youngest granddaughter, who is six, with me for a week. Steve was away so we had all the days wide open for fun. We got an early start to each morning and kept busy from start to finish. I know how much energy children have but I forgot that it goes and goes all day and does not wane. So, my biggest challenge was keeping up with all of Violet's ideas. 

Violet loves to draw, cut, glue, fold, build and create. She was content to let her imagination free with all the craft supplies at hand. I noticed she liked to fold paper into three dimensional box shapes so I asked her if she knew what a diorama was. To my surprise, she did! I found a shoe box and she decided to make an ocean scene inside of it. She wanted me to craft along with her so I made two fish to hang in her diorama. We spent an entire morning adding more and more ideas to the scene. I showed her how to create tabs to use in gluing shapes to the bottom and how to use thread to hang things from the top. We added shells, lobsters, and a hermit crab made of Sculpey clay. Finally, in the basement we found a pile of tissue paper leftover from Christmas. Violet crumbled that up into foaming ocean waves and glued them all around her scene. 

The next day we went to the library where they had a special program called, Didgeridoo Down Under. It was a wonderful program with an educator who played the didgeridoo, talked about all things Australian, and had a lizard and a snake for everyone to touch. Violet thought it would be fun to make a didgeridoo so we stopped at the hardware store on our way to lunch and bought three foot pieces of one inch PVC (which the performer suggested) and some brown spray paint. We practiced trying to make the right sounds come out of our didgeridoos and we decided we need a lot more practice. In the meantime, we have future plans to decorate the plain brown pipes with Aboriginal art. When Steve got home at the end of the week, we showed him our didgeridoos. He was amused with them and picked one up to play. He got the right vibration sound to come out immediately! We were jealous. He chalked it up to his playing the saxophone.

The following days were filled with more crafting, another diorama of a farm scene,  lunch at McDonald's, lots of swinging on the swing in the basement, games of Uno, watching the movie "Hook" (during which I closed my eyes and snored), looking at all the jewelry in my jewelry box, trying unsuccessfully to change out Violet's newly pierced earrings, reading books from the library, cooking a dinner, and baking cupcakes.

It was a delightful week. After it was all over, I thought about when I was a young mom and I had four Violets to keep up with. We were together all the time, for home school and play. It brings to mind all the young mothers with children that I see in the stores or at the pool. I recall that season of life and I realize these moms need prayers, kindness, and plenty of support to get through those busy years. It needs to come not only from family and friends but from strangers too. I pray that for my daughters, three of whom are young moms. A smile or word of encouragement from a stranger can go a long way when a young mother is having a bad day or is bone tired. I need to be mindful of this when I am out and about.

 

The Hokey Pokey

We did the Hokey Pokey in the pool at aquacise class. As we played, I was acutely aware that we were twenty or so happy older people of all shapes and sizes singing the Hokey Pokey and dancing in the water. So many thoughts raced through my head: 1. It reminded me of weddings I attended as a kid. 2. Is the Hokey Pokey a thing anymore? 3. I remembered playing it with my pre-school class way back in the 1970's. 4. How silly do we older folks appear doing this? 5. It doesn't matter and I don't care. 6.  I have heard that as we age we become children again. This proves it. 7. No matter how much weight and sorrow we carry in our hearts and on our shoulders, all humans need to play. It is good for us. 8. I barely know these people. I only see them in the pool each week and we exchange small talk. But I see humanity in their faces and I love them all. 9. Laughter is the best medicine.

In a matter of a few seconds, my mind was drawn back into the moment. I pointed at the sky, sang the Hokey Pokey and 'turned myself about'.

    

Mimosa in Bloom

 

     People tell me the Mimosa tree is a "weed tree". Supposedly, it sprouts up everywhere from its seed pods and it is difficult to eradicate once you have one. Personally, I think it is heavenly. The one pictured above grows on the side of the road behind our house. Every July, we walk up the hill and cross the road to stand beneath its foliage. The branches spread out horizontally creating a wide, tropical canopy. The flowers fill the air with a very sweet scent. Hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees dart all over the foliage and flowers. They move so fast that it is impossible to track a single bird's movements.
     I thought it would be lovely to have a Mimosa tree at our place. I inquired about it at Rainfrost Nursery in Bedford last year but they didn't have any cultivated varieties to sell. The clerk said they might be able to get one called a Chocolate Mimosa (It sounds like a yummy drink!) and I gave her my name and number but no one ever called to say they got them in.
     Recently, I spotted a Mimosa seedling in one of our shrubbery beds. It is the first time in the twenty-one years we have lived here that a seedling has sprouted on our property. Now I am faced with the dilemma of whether or not to try and keep it and transplant it to a better spot. I am wary of the warnings and the trouble it may cause years from now. I hate to kill the little thing, which only adds to my dilemma. I could let it be for now and perhaps transplant it up near the road in the fall. That way I haven't killed it but I haven't committed it to the yard either.  I would much rather have a Mimosa tree up there than all the Black Walnut trees that self propagate. Talk about a nuisance tree! If I was forced to choose, I would choose a Mimosa over a Black Walnut any day.   

Thoughts on June

 

June left behind a mixture of emotions this year. While nature gave us beautiful blooms and dramatic landscapes, our church had to say goodbye to our beloved priest, Father Paul Logco. After one short year with us, his bishop called him back to the Phillipines. Father Paul is a kind and gentle shepherd, one of the kindest people I have ever met. He loved his congregation and we all loved him in return.

Although we were heartbroken with his leaving, it was important for us to send him off properly. We arranged a dinner and party with one hundred and seventy people attending. Father played the guitar and sang for us after which he received a standing ovation. He received another standing ovation after serving his last Mass with us. Many people cried openly as they hugged and said goodbye. 

Last summer, when Father Paul had first arrived, we invited him to our home for dinner. During that evening I asked him what made him decide to become a priest. He said that when he was young, he saw the love that a priest had for his people and the love he received in return. He wanted to know that kind of love. He certainly achieved that goal in our church. 

Father Paul was very sad as we said our last goodbyes. He said it was so hard to leave his beloved people. I know God has special plans for him. He stands out among all the pastors I have known throughout my lifetime. His heart is sincere and kind and loving. His teaching of Scripture is clear and true, and he is humble. In this world, we can all do with such an example in our lives.

 We miss you dearly, Father Paul.

Favorite Places- The Hardware Store

 

The weather was so hot on Saturday that we decided to go out and run errands and window shop rather than sit around bored with the heat. It seemed like a good idea at the time. But, it turned out to be more miserable walking across parking lots, and getting in and out of the car in the heat than if we had just stayed home. 

One stop we made was at our local Northwest hardware store. I was blown away by the expansion of their nuts and bolts department. This is not a big hardware store but this aisle is impressive! Steve and I both found everything we were looking for. I really enjoy a good hardware store. I strongly dislike endlessly walking around the big box hardware stores, wandering aimlessly and not being able to find things. The smaller neighborhood stores are easier to navigate and to locate items. 

Way back when, between first and second year of college I worked in the hardware section of our local Joy's department store. I mixed paint, cut keys, and helped people find things. I learned a lot that summer and I liked all the creative, helpful items one could find in a hardware department. I also started dating Steve around that time so it is all one, big happy memory. Sometimes he would pick me up from work. I can still remember how he smelled- like new leather. A hardware clerk and a shoe salesman, and a whole lot of dreams...

Welcome Summer!

  

Frittata gets underway. I like to stage all the ingredients before I turn on the heat. From front to back: onions, mushrooms, Swiss chard, Parmesan, parsley, and eggs whisked in the bowl.

Although it's my least favorite season, temperature wise, I love summer for its long daylight hours, the easy-feeling pace of life, the light clothing we wear, and especially for the fresh produce at our fingertips. 

The garden has begun to give us a harvest. Swiss chard, lettuce, radishes, beets, basil, and tomatoes are calling to be picked. We have an abundance of Swiss chard this year so I offered some to friends. I found that those friends from up north knew what it was but my southern friends were not familiar with it. I grew up eating it because my dad planted it in his garden and I guess eating it is something I took for granted. It is delightful as a side dish, sauteed in olive oil with garlic, salt and pepper. One of my favorite recipes cooks it into a frittata and makes a main dish of it. Steve and I eat this for dinner fairly often. It says that it serves eight, but for us it is more like three or four servings. I like to serve a fresh tomato salad on the side and voila, dinner is done!

Frittata

Serves 8

 5 Tbl. olive oil

1 medium onion, thinly sliced

2 c. mushrooms, sliced

2 c. Swiss chard, washed and trimmed of stems, cut into ribbons

8 eggs

1 c. Parmesan or goat cheese

¼ c. parsley, chopped

salt and pepper

 

Preheat oven to 400°

Heat a large,10-12 inch, non-stick skillet on medium-high heat. Add 2 Tbl olive oil to pan.

Add the onions, spreading them out evenly. Let them brown for about 7 minutes.

Turn the heat down to medium and continue to let the onions caramelize, moving them around to release some moisture, about 8 minutes more.

Then add the mushrooms and sauté together until they have released their moisture and are cooked through, about 5 minutes.

When the mushrooms are nearly done, add the Swiss chard and sauté until barely wilted. Remove the mixture from the pan and set aside.

Clean out the pan and set it back on the heat. Add 3 Tbl olive oil.

In a large bowl, beat the eggs with a little water. Add a generous pinch of salt and pepper.

Add the herbs, cheese, and vegetables to the eggs.

Pour the egg and vegetable mixture into the skillet and then turn the heat down to medium-low. Cook, undisturbed, until the mixture firms up on the bottom, then transfer it to the oven.

Bake until the top is cooked, about 10 minutes.

 

PS.- Question: When I copy and paste text from a Word Document to my blog, it adds spacing between the lines. The same thing happens when I start a new paragraph when composing my posts. Is there any easy way to change line spacing options in blogspot?