September Pickin's
There is a reason I like to take photos. Although our vegetable and flower gardens start out pretty lovely in May and June, by the time September gets here, they're far from perfect. In fact, to be honest, the vegetable garden is a depressing weed patch right now. What often happens is this: Springtime finally arrives after a long winter and we can hardly wait to get into the garden and plant those seeds we ordered from the many gorgeous, alluring seed catalogs that come in the mail in mid winter.
After we plant, the garden looks beautiful. I eagerly and joyously water and wait. I am optimistic. My optimism is encouraged by the sweet little plantlets that push their way through the soil, reaching for sunshine.
Things go along pretty well until...
we get to really hot weather when the plants 'bolt' and the weeds spring up about 2 feet nearly overnight. At that point, it is suddenly overwhelming and depressing. We've got blight on the tomatoes, leaf wilt on the squash, the beans are tough because of the hot weather, the strawberries are tiny, and the peas had about a week of good weather. Right now? We've got a serious rain shortage. That's the reality of the vegetable garden - especially this year.
After we plant, the garden looks beautiful. I eagerly and joyously water and wait. I am optimistic. My optimism is encouraged by the sweet little plantlets that push their way through the soil, reaching for sunshine.
Things go along pretty well until...
we get to really hot weather when the plants 'bolt' and the weeds spring up about 2 feet nearly overnight. At that point, it is suddenly overwhelming and depressing. We've got blight on the tomatoes, leaf wilt on the squash, the beans are tough because of the hot weather, the strawberries are tiny, and the peas had about a week of good weather. Right now? We've got a serious rain shortage. That's the reality of the vegetable garden - especially this year.
BUT, I can pick a few of those luscious tomatoes that survived the blight, a few sprigs of lavender, some asters, a few rudbeckia, and a twig or two of high bush cranberries. When I set them all together, I can zoom in with my camera and see just what I want to see, weed free. It's amazing how cheering that is. I love the color and the many textures and am so grateful that I can see and smell those beautiful gifts from our Creator - which He generously gives to even me, a sometimes disgruntled gardener.
And there's always next year.
How was your garden this year?
By the way, the tomato was delicious!
And there's always next year.
How was your garden this year?
By the way, the tomato was delicious!
***
'Rosemary Mint'
Natural, Handcrafted Vegan Soap
(with rosemary from our garden)
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31 comments:
Your tomatoes look beautiful, Judy! I'm on my way with the bacon. Would you be so kind as to bake a loaf of your world famous bread?
our tomato plants died from the heat, no tomatoes. that is all we can plant. bob is outside now digging out weeds that have gone totally wild since we took out the tree and that area gets sun.
At least you can grow a garden... try growing tomatoes in sand and heat!! lol The picture is lovely though!!
My garden is about the same. I had to fight the mold on my squash and now my pumpkin plants. I started my tomatoes way to late in the season and I will be lucky to get a few.
Been way too dry this year. My flowers did pretty well. I have too much shade for veggies but did grow two tomato plants. Ehh. Got about 4 tomatoes. Might try more next year-- not sure it's worth the water bill however.
That is a lovely photo Judy.
My garden isn't big enough to grow fruit and vegetables although I would love to try now that we are living a frugal lifestyle!
Well, let's just say that your garden-weedy and bolted- was much better than my own because this one never got into the ground! lol Your photo is great, though! xo Diana
Lol, I think your timeline of gardening hits the mark. Its all sunshine and roses until the weeds take over and then we are fed up!
It has not been a good summer for growing gardens that is for sure.
Your harvest looks beautiful.
I am going to try to grow my first food garden in AZ. (I only have grown natives and near native flowering gardens here, but I have gardened in northern California.)
Well, people say start September 1. Well it is still too HOT and experienced people now tell us to wait until the end of September, because the plants will be killed.
i love that! presenting perfection where there might not be much. :)
Well, your basket of tomatoes looks wonderful, and the flowers are lovely. No garden for me, in Florida. I miss it.
Your tomatoes looks so tasty!! I wish I had a garden, as they are always the best homegrown! Hope you enjoy them all and have a beautiful day!! xo Heather
This year we decided with everything going on not to plant a garden. It was a relief not to have to think about it, but we still miss it!
You are right, who wants to weed when it is 90+ degrees out!
Yes the garden is dry and withering with one or two tomatoes left, but we are enjoying them.
I don't have a garden, but I do have a great farmers market I frequent often!
Pretty good. I gave it lots of water during our hot spell. We will miss those fresh tomatoes won't we?
The colors in your header are so vibrant! Fall is almost here!
Tomatoes are wonderful.
Our tomatoes are still green, I think it's too late :(
Oh, Judy, your post is just what my garden heart has to say. :( Sometimes it can be so hard...but I love your out look. Take a bit of that and that and zoom in.
I did that too. I was happy with the beans I got. Gave PRAISE...and then got a gift of beans for my mom who had a great bean year. God provides.
Because we live in town, we have to pay for water...after our August bill came...well we are letting mother nature take care of our garden now. Yes, we need rain.
Your basket of tomatoes and pretty flowers made for a very pretty picture! Perfect combination for late summer.
Judy, things in my garden struggled for a while when we hit record hot temps. Now that it's cooled down, getting a bit of new life. Just picked a large bucket of tomatoes that will be made into salsa on Friday. Rudebeckias never disappoint.
hugs,
Jann
My own garden got over ran with weeds........the garden we share at work was awesome until it got hailed. it is still producing just the tomatoes have marks from the hail.
Really lovely.
You did get a nice basket of things. I love the way it looks. We have heard of bad gardens this year. I only planted some peppers and my husband planted gourds. LOL. You did better than we did. xoxo,Susie
We did not plant anything since we moved in May. Just in the last week, we planted 2 trees and some pampas grass. We had a very wet summer and now it is very dry!
Beautiful photo! And a beautiful true story about the reality of gardening!
Your basket of tomatoes with the rudbeckia looks beautiful! Enjoy!
Love those asters! And the Midwest corn and tomatoes. Couldn't grow tomatoes here to save my life..Sigh.
I have to say that was one of the loveliest photos I have ever seen! The tomato looked so beautiful and the flowers - man or man. sandie
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