Song Of The Cicadas

Summer is ending. Summer is fleeting. Soon it'll be cold, snowy and sleeting.

The cicadas are out in full force and singing up a storm. And no matter what lyrics one might put to their tune, the chorus would undoubtedly be something like the sentences at the start of this entry. Gardening this year had a later start than usual because it seemed that Mother Nature didn't really want to start spring. Planting in this area was three to four weeks later than usual. But the time of bounty is upon us and the first summer squash is in. I hope my straight neck squash plant lives up to the prolific nature of average summer squash plants, because there isn't much time left before the cool nights return and the autumnal equinox is upon us.

A Lot From One Pot

If you're interested in growing basil, but don't have much room. Try the lettuce leaf variety. As you can see from the photo, you can get a lot from just one leaf. And even a modest sized pot provides enough room for a plant with an abundance of leaves such as these. Just make sure to harvest the leaves regularly so the plant won't flower and go to seed.

First Harvest

In my never ending quest to save Mother Earth, reduce, reuse, recycle, refuse and to pinch a penny until Lincoln's head turns black and blue; may I present delectable Tom Thumb lettuce, the first harvest of the season. No doubt you will note the unconventional containers in which these two fine heads of lettuce are growing. They once contained juice, 100% pure of course. And now they host the perfect complement to almost any sandwich or the basis of a really great salad. Ah, a toasted bun, a dash of mustard and some fresh lettuce with a great veggie burger are merely the start of great garden season dining!

Spring Is Upon Us

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood. And one of the surest signs that Spring has sprung is this blossoming peach tree in a nearby yard. It's enough to make you forget the term polar vortex.

The Birds The Word

Here's something to crow about. Today marks the 229th anniversary of the birth of naturalist, ornithologist and painter John James Audubon. No need to go cuckoo. Just follow the link to learn more about this man and his amazing contributions to our knowledge about nature.

They're Baaaaaaaaack!

While performing the annual ritual of container triage I came upon an unexpected find. This pot was located in possibly the worst place of any container. It was buried under a mountain of snow near the fence that was the result of not only what fell in that location, but what was piled there during numerous shoveling and snow blowing sessions. Yet the chives in it have survived and have sprouted anew. I should have taken a few pics of the mini snow Everest that engulfed this container. But take my word for it, this is the last thing I expected to see as I prepared for this season's container gardening. I guess there was more going on beneath the snow than I suspected. Nature truly is grand!

Learning To Hate Thinning Less

If you think the title of this piece is about hair, you're barking up the wrong tree. It's actually about one of my least favorite gardening activities, thinning. Maybe it's my keen sense of frugality, but it has always irritated me that sprouts must be removed so that others may flourish. The loss of potential produce just rubs me the wrong way. Although to be honest, I don't just discard the potential tomatoes, carrots, etc. The young plants go straight into the compost bin. But still, I'm haunted by the thought of what might have been.

This sense of loss is greatly reduced when growing lettuce and other greens. Even when young, the tender sprouts can be used in a sandwich or salad. So my thinning becomes grazing. Now that's something I can live with!