Posted in Blessings of Habit, Winter

The Last Bouquet

Traces.

Traces of Summer Fading
Traces of Summer Fading

Old roses, pouring out a Springtime show, a last reaching for the sun, blooming, rich scented musk, and we inhale delight.

Tomorrow we will be satisfied with the damp, spent fragrance of fading roses, and gather spent and fallen petals to dry and save for dark places that welcome old scent.

Their baby cousins left outdoors will be dead, frozen, never to be seen in bloom.

We will remark how the last bouquet is always the rarest, while dark winds blow and traces of sleet fall.

We will inhale traces of delight from the remaining blooms, longing to imprint their gifts in our memories.

And failing.

And we will satisfy ourselves with the spices of oaken smoke and old recipes.

And dried, faded petals scattered in the dark places.

And we will put them away again when the first traces of warm earth rise up like ghosts of summers past, to take us back to the roses.

Posted in Blessings of Habit, Food, Inspiring

Weekly Photo Challenge: Fresh

Do Get Fresh with Me!

fresh beet greens
Fresh Beet Greens

We grow these babies because they are so delicious steamed and buttered.

With a crop like this, we can make only about five meals, since they greatly reduce in volume while cooking.

These are the thinnings from a row planted too thickly, on purpose, to allow for this rare delicacy on our table. The rest will grow into regular beets and the tough tops will go to our chickens.

We’ll all be munching happily!

 

Posted in Blessings of Habit, Homemaking, Photos

Gardening Challenge: Change

tilled garden
Tilled Garden Plot

Once there was a LOT of crimson clover growing here, but we tilled it under. That part was easy because we planted a ground cover that was easy to use this way, on purpose. Imagine. It nourishes and improves the soil, lending its life to the new growth to come, but we do not need it overshadowing what is going on, now. In the past the ground cover guarded the soil from weed overgrowth and dehydration. Now that job will belong to us.

Also, we tilled in some vicious weeds–Bermuda Grass–not wanted here, not stealing nutrients from our little babies. It was unable to do much destruction over the winter. Now that the summer is coming, it will try to take over. We will be vigilant about this unwanted growth, which is still present in the form of root pieces hiding amongst the fresh, lovely soil, waiting for the chance to pop up, unbidden, strong, and destructive.

Change will come to this garden.

change, garden, new, progress
Brand New Growth

New growth. It’s taking the place of ground cover and weeds, which are not needed, now.

As the plants mature, they eventually bear fruit.

Cucumbers, dill, peppers . . .
Cucumbers, dill, peppers . . .
Corn! . . .
Corn! . . .
Squash . . .
Squash . . .
happy fruit
Tomatoes . . .
carrots
Carrots . . .
bushel of greens
Greens . . .
radish bouquet
Radishes . . .

How are things changing in your life?About all the changes a garden can bring. Not just appearances!