garden?

i’ve been thinking about starting a garden. ok, maybe not right this minute, as we’re on the heels of summer and heading toward colder weather. but maybe i can start planning on what i’d like to put in a garden for spring.

i love the concept of having things that bloom regardless of the season. it’s almost like doing the wave at a baseball game—something’s always popping up. but that takes planning—and a little know-how. my time for planning is spare. and the know-how part…well, let’s just say i’m a little lacking.

i wish i were one of those people who had a knack for it. frankly, i’m lucky i don’t kill my basil. and i can never get my cilantro to grow. could it be that i don’t have a green thumb to save my life or is it just that cilantro is a really finicky plant? i think i’ll go with the latter. it doesn’t crush my self-esteem as much.

i have a couple of neighbors who have small gardens in their backyards. they don’t yield much—it’s not like they’re supporting themselves financially on the fruits of their labor. but it’s certainly enough to make a good dinner.

my father grew a garden in our backyard when i was growing up. i loved being able to wander in on a hot summer day and grab a snack. fresh sugar snap peas. sun-warmed cherry tomatoes on the vine that would just pop in your mouth. baby lettuces. zucchini. peppers. chives. the list goes on.

when we wanted to make dinner, we picked what was ripe, threw it into a pot, and that was dinner. it was also one of the best parts of summer for me as a kid. it may be the very reason why i love food and cooking so much. i grew up on the fresh stuff. no pesticides, just a little elbow grease.

so for now, i will fantasize about a garden and wait for spring again…