I always think of summer as the time of year to relax and rejuvenate, especially when working in schools. The heat in Texas during the summer is always brutal but as get older, the heat really affects me. We had a fair amount of rain this spring which is great for the garden and trees but it brings humidity that makes working outside even tougher. It is even worse when storms miss us but leave sticky heat in their midst. Jim Bob likes to say that Texas storms prefer watering the concrete in the cities to rural homes like ours.
Yesterday, that was definitely the case. I watched the radar as a strong cell approached and covered Fort Worth and became hopeful when that same cell dropped south towards us. I prepped the Booboo and Maple with some calming treats and noticed how they stayed close to either me or Jim Bob. Neither are fans of any kind of boom booms but Maple sometimes shakes all over when a good rain falls. Then, poof, the storm dissolved and we got nothing but a swelteringly sticky morning. I needed to get out and water the garden.
The garden has been abundant with squash, beefsteak tomatoes, jalapenos, and banana peppers. Okra and green beans are just ramping up and there are plenty of blossoms for cantaloupe. I thought I had planted a bunch of cantaloupe seeds but soon realized that I planted a bunch of green beans and only one cantaloupe. It is a lot easier to freeze green beans and was glad to see that I was smarter than I thought. Sadly, the cucumbers and peas were smothered by the squash leaves and didn’t make it when I tried transplanting them. Greek salads with tomato, cucumber, feta and olives with lemon juice and a little olive oil are my favorite and I am disappointed that I have to buy cucumbers if I don’t have a fellow gardener with an abundance of cucumbers.
The weeds continue to thrive to my frustration. It is too hot now to do any serious weeding and am making do until the weather cools and we get some rain to loosen the soil then lay down more fabric to try and deter the jungle from overwhelming again.
I may not be the best gardener and would ever have the patience to become a master gardener but I always feel a bit Zen and satisfied after getting out to the garden.
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