Ah, here it is, the first week of Summer. Standing quietly in the morning sun, we observed the progress of our backyard garden. Thankfully, Mother Nature has generously watered for us almost daily, for the last month and followed up with wonderfully scorching 90 plus degree days. Smiling and contented, I kneel down beside the last couple stragglers of spinach growing, the rest already plucked, cleaned, and frozen for latter meals.
One would think that after several years of gardening the amazement and awe somehow would fade away, yet every time I put my hands to the earth and pull forth food, a satisfying, euphoric feeling comes about me. Personally I hope it stays with me through the rest of my days and is one of the few passions I want to infuse my grandchildren with. Even now on bended knee I notice the tomatoes have risen well beyond their respective cages, as though the heavens are their goal and to my left, I see the deep red of the radish globes pushing ever so slightly above the dirt. Just to think a mere 6 weeks ago, I was spreading seeds in this very spot, and now we have started to enjoy the fruits of that moment by sprinkling our summer salads with their fiery hot slices. Our taste buds have embraced the change to fresh picked as well as our budget. Even my cookbooks are enjoying a dust free period.
Staked out along the fence are two rows of beans. Wonderful, long, thick, green beans in the front and pale yellow wax beans behind them. When they first started growing I thought to myself, how easy these will be. Why I'll just grab a bowl, straddle a row at a time and pinch off those that are ready. Ten minutes in, I had turned in my bowl for a grocery bag, a damp washcloth to keep the sweat out of my eyes, and a fishing hat to help subdue the sunshine. An hour and a half and a couple glasses of ice water (thanks to my thoughtful partner) later, my bag was brimming with beans as I finished scooting my bottom through the moist soil, alongside the row of green ones. That's when the realization that the real work still laid ahead tonight. Washing, snapping, and then bagging the harvest for the freezer. Tomorrow I thought, maybe I will come back for the yellow ones. That was two days ago. The yellow ones call out to me every time I step into the backyard, or so it seems! Soon, I whisper back still kneeling near the spinach. Soon!
As I stand back up, my better half begins to recite the list of things needing to be done to or in the garden. I stand there nodding in agreement. Yes, yes, he'll feed the plants, and turn under the last remnants of spinach while I need to buy more seeds and pull the remaining radishes, so he turn that area over again too. Already he's decided what he wants to plant in their respective places. Walking back to the house, I smiled at him, happy in the knowledge our garden is a shared love, just like the one we have with each other. The more we tend it, the more it rewards us.
PS....That goes for sharing your extra with family, friends and neighbors. Their smile says it all!
