The Chinese believe that everything in life has Yin and Yang aspects, and I’ve certainly found this to be true of gardening. Sometimes the garden can give you bountiful gifts, like a whole colander full of green beans you find hiding under the leaves.
But for every bountiful harvest, there seems to be an equal numbers of garden heartbreaks. This year I planted four rows of swiss chard, and every bit has been eaten down to the stalks. (I have no idea what is eating my chard like this; would love to hear from anyone who has thoughts about what it might be.)
Of course, if you look hard enough you can find a kind of savage beauty even in garden destruction.
Some plants bring more pleasure than you ever imagined, like these Flying Saucer Squash that turned out to be beautifully multi-colored. (I can imagine they’ll make a lovely Raw Summer Squash Salad.)
It is heartbreaking when plants don’t flourish, and there’s no apparent reason. (This is one of two Celebrity tomatoes side-by-side and the other one is about three times the size.)
Sometimes the plants give it their all and manage to produce good things, even if they aren’t 100% healthy!
If you look for it, you can see the future in your garden, and when I look at this Roma Tomato plant, I’m seeing Slow Roasted Tomatoes.
And when you look at your plants and see that Green Zebra Tomatoes are well on the way to ripeness, you forget all the garden heartbreak and only think of the pleasure to come.
What kind of uplifting and heartbreaking things are happening in your garden this year?
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Thanks to everyone who chimed in on what's eating the chard. After showing the photo evidence and heavy consultation with the master gardener at Western Gardens, I've decided it is quail that's eating the plants. I bought plastic netting to go over; will report back on whether that solves it.
Your garden is looking great, though I am sorry about your poor Swiss chard. What a treat to find green beans hidden away. Unexpected treats are the most appreciated!
Laurie, can I just say how much I am hoping it's not birds? I have no idea what to do about them besides netting, which seems like an awful pain.
Mother Rimmy, sorry to hear the weather is giving you a bad year in the garden, Hate it when that happens.
Susan, I do see a few chard leaves sprouting out, so I think I'll try to nurture them back to health. Thanks for the suggestion of Neem Oil. On Monday I will check with my local garden expert to see what to try.
Low-glycemic jam, no idea how to make that unless you just substitute Splenda for the sugar! Sounds good though!
45 Comments on “Friday Night Photos: The Yin and Yang of Gardening (2010 Garden Update #7)”
Thanks to everyone who chimed in on what's eating the chard. After showing the photo evidence and heavy consultation with the master gardener at Western Gardens, I've decided it is quail that's eating the plants. I bought plastic netting to go over; will report back on whether that solves it.
Wish I can have a garden like yours.
Dara, we are really rocking the beans around here; just picked another whole bucket of beans today. I'm vowing to keep up on them a little better!
Your garden is looking great, though I am sorry about your poor Swiss chard. What a treat to find green beans hidden away. Unexpected treats are the most appreciated!
Laurie, can I just say how much I am hoping it's not birds? I have no idea what to do about them besides netting, which seems like an awful pain.
Mother Rimmy, sorry to hear the weather is giving you a bad year in the garden, Hate it when that happens.
Susan, I do see a few chard leaves sprouting out, so I think I'll try to nurture them back to health. Thanks for the suggestion of Neem Oil. On Monday I will check with my local garden expert to see what to try.
Low-glycemic jam, no idea how to make that unless you just substitute Splenda for the sugar! Sounds good though!