Beautiful goodness

There is something so magical about shopping for fresh produce in my own garden.  When I get home from a day of shopkeeping, I grab a basket and head out to see what beckons.  While the soaker hoses quietly hisssssss, I pick berries, greens, the veggie of the week.

Isn’t that pretty?  Doesn’t get any fresher or better than this!  This is the first time I’ve grown broccoli.  I’m not sure if it is worth the space that it takes, but my goodness, the plants are impressive!  They look almost prehistoric in their robust bigness!

My garden’s not big enough to fill all our summer produce needs, but it comes fairly close and frequently we even have some to share.  I love that!  The strawberry rush is nearly over now, and the raspberries are beginning to ripen.  It is time now for some clean-up, fresh compost, and replanting of greens.

Coming soon to our table are snow peas and summer squash.  Yes, it is nearly zucchini time, that challenging time each summer when gardeners and cooks all across North America scramble to keep up with the green buggers which grow from slender fruits to huge boats overnight.  I swear, at times I can hear them chortling in the twilight when I close the garden gate for the night.

We’ll see how I do with keeping up with the zukes this year, or if I have to send my son William off in cover of darkness to leave giant squash on the front stoop of Steph and Ruth’s house!