First -- the good news. For those of you who were worried that we were permanently out of thyme, rest assured that we got some back. $2.50 at the Farmer's Market -- who knew buying thyme would be that easy? Of course, we still have this little problem...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjs3FU75xrzagrRoj05mBjvztDLCmOy1ZEVleqNVty-Khexc6mAqDK0VrK6stOHnsW1-8ZIg_V18gzf_EaJ8cJR1i6xdGUtsm4qrtlx2FjnlSFS8bMRlVCrUKV3XCpeMN5dW35p7LRUHPk/s320/jack-in-cilantro.jpg)
... but we've become more careful with our thyme. Protecting what little thyme we have left.
Unfortunately, the only reason we're saving thyme is that Jack has turned his attention elsewhere -- i.e., my vegetable garden.
Here's a brief inventory:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00NFPOqT4eNqj1oZpal1riw7b4WfhT0VXt9VeqviAxTL2X-xrPVKT-RauwWFF8nEgKt6QbTKYXLNyGuCzztdAdSRc-Ud2DfKw-ZY5Cv9vXzZrmyvF_VZWok2_48nUdhudC14Qdarg_28w/s320/garden-update.jpg)
Zucchini plant: Zucchini ROCKS! This plant may restore my faith in Mother Nature's resilience.
Crookneck Squash: Never had a chance. Jack scattered them when they were just little sprouts. They may yet turn up in the yard somewhere.
Four kinds of peppers: Doomed. I don't think Jack actually ate them -- at least not more than once -- but he does like to bite them off.
Asparagus: Hanging in there in spite of the similar beating its been taking.
Hibiscus: Also doomed. This one hurt. I had high hopes for this bush. It's gone.Anything else in the picture that's green: Weeds. I understand that pulling them up is part of the "tending" I'm supposed to be doing.
But did I mention the zucchini?? I haven't done a thing to it and it's huge! With blossoms!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfuCyccVewtle4TjflsBUl1jFxCjuMGFvZki8I9QvplqBlSSj8u0rvikO62nCxBaX3uQH3D65VkT7FN0rEnrwmeN7TncFZxeEegrkVVTuAVAnryfdSYqtNMSQoTpx_4A4NJmZgG8E1xdx/s320/zucchini.jpg)
THIS is the kind of gardening I signed on for.
The kind where you put a plant in the ground, visit it occasionally -- maybe water it a bit if you happen to be out there with a hose.
After a few weeks of sipping mint juleps on the veranda, you harvest bushels of fresh, unblemished vegetables to present to friends and family with an air of smug satisfaction and a pamphlet that preaches about carbon footprints.
So yes, I'm shocked and bitter that it's not turning out so well. I was misled...
... by this:
I've never done anything to nurture this rose bush. In fact, I've accidentally run over it a few times with the lawn mower. And I know it's taken some abuse from neighborhood critters. But every year, it comes back with even more blooms than the year before.
This year, it hooked up with a rogue honeysuckle bush, which ALSO thrives without any attention from me.
If THEY can do it, why not my hibiscus???
1 comment:
You are a true inspiration to lazy, inept gardeners everywhere! Thanks!!!
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