Gems from my Garden

For some reason - and everyone seems to have a different idea - my garden this summer has been exceptionally good. We have tried to grow tomatoes every summer for several decades. Some years we had good crops, other years, not so good.

I remember the tomato plant my Daddy brought me, back in 1986 (that's the date on the picture) - that came from some seeds my uncle had planted. I put it in a sunny spot back of the pool and watched it grow. And grow... and grow! We had five inch tomatoes that summer. I even photographed one, just to keep my story honest.

As I recall, they were pretty tasty too.

Fast forward to this summer. I asked my yardman to take out a lot of grass that had not survived the drought and severe winter and make me a nice flower bed for roses. It turned out to be big enough for us to plant four tomato bushes and a pepper plant among the rose bushes. Knowing we would be on vacation for two weeks, I also placed a soaker hose throughout the bed, making sure that every plant would catch some water. Then I left it on low and we went to France.

Here is just a small sampling of our harvest from one week. We get enough to eat two or three every day, share a few with friends, and look forward to more on the morrow.

One of the casualties of winter this year were my potted bougainvilleas. I had three and they all looked as if the freezing nights had taken the life from them. I cut them all down to the dirt and set the pots back behind the pool. And then the spring rains came and two of the three plants were resuscitated by the life-giving rain. Only one of them has bloomed so far, but it is a real beauty!

Not only are my plants thriving, but the little cicadas are coming out of the earth and presenting themselves in chirping choruses. This little guy caught my ear and stayed on his perch long enough for me to run in a get my camera! His companion flew off before I could get back.

There's an awful lot of life going on in the back yard. I'll keep my camera handy for more "proof!"