A reason that has motivated me over the years to go out and do a little each day in the garden and borders is never wanting to deal with an insurmountable task.  And that — as most of us know – is what comes when things are not tended.

Unfortunately for me life happenings managed to get in the way of regular habits at least 4 times since Bill died in 2015..  Being as slow as I am  makes getting  things back to where they should be take a lot longer than if I walked normally as before I broke my leg in 2018.

By April this year, the garden was looking pretty good and for the first time since Bill died (nine years ago) I was getting back that “old excitement” that once came  as the growing season progressed.

They’ve Finished their Life

Last year these bushes,  planted more than 20 years ago, indicated they had finished their life span.

I’ll remove them this year.

Fortunately I have 3  early-variety bushes outside the garden that are producing well.  They’re maybe 11 years old. So while new bushes establish themselves there should still be berries.

I eat them fresh everyday during the season and freeze many for eating in the winter.

Glad  Strawberry Harvest Was Completed

As with blueberries, I eat them fresh daily and freeze many for smoothies during the summer and winter.

Blueberries and strawberries taste fantastic together.

I Missed Out on the Blackberries

The first days of July I got a few tastes of blackberries right off the plant. The day before I ended up unable to walk I picked a pint. That will be all those delicious blackberries for me until next year. Boo Hoo.

Was able to Harvest the Early and Late Crop of Figs for Freezing

What Makes Gardening Easy

I’ve always had what most people would consider a LOT of space to tend.  It never seemed a problem to me once nature showed me her 3 keys. That – coupled with doing things little by little consistently – sometimes makes me feel that I’m not doing anything but planting and harvesting.

Even when I broke my leg in 2018 and was on my kitchen floor for 4 months while healing – the condition of the garden when I got up was not all that bad.  It took time to get it back to what it was of course.  But it wasn’t emotionally overwhelming.

This Year’s Experience Was Different – Might Have Been the Rain

The entire month of June was dry.  But it seemed to start raining the minute those boxes fell and knocked me off my feet July 7th.

August 6th I was able to walk again (with my crutch) and headed for the garden.

I was  shocked and horrified at what I saw. It must have been all that rain!

Morning glory vines for the first time in twenty plus years covered every inch of the fence from top to bottom around the 2500 square feet of garden.

More upsetting were the invasive trees from the neighboring property.

They had sprung up all over the garden from the top end to the lower end. Many had already grown 5 feet tall with young trunks at least an inch to one and a half inches in circumference. 

All in only ONE MONTH!!

The roots of these trees are NOT your normal tree roots!

Why and How They’re Invasive

These roots cobweb through the soil from the top of the soil down deep into the earth.  Every shoot that branches from the main root sends out another shoot from every foot it grows. And that keeps happening on each of the hundreds of branchings.

Hopefully you can imagine this and now understand why these trees pose a problem unlike commonly grown trees .

As they push through the soil new trees grow from the roots.  These are ones that have grown 5 feet or more in a month,. Getting these trees out totally is next to impossible.  And any piece of root that remains will grow. 

Seedlings can also come up from seed that blows in.  Those will pull out easily – roots and all. They only achieve a height of 2 feet in a month.

It’s been an ongoing battle over the years to continually dig out what I can as they push their way through the soil hundreds of feet from their source. And it gets worse every year.

Constantly cutting the ones that have entwined themselves into the part of the fence that is below ground is an unwanted but an often and necessary task.

Different When We Moved Here

Just so you’ll know – when we first moved here the fellow who owned the property that adjoins ours had cleared that woods. We had no problem.  Then he sold it to people who could care less and allowed these monster trees to take hold again.

Assessing the Situation

I stood at my unopened entrance gate and assessed things. Never in over 40 years of gardening had I ever needed a tool to clear a path before I could enter. 

It was discouraging to think of all the time it would take to once again get things in order.  (Especially since the day before the incident with the boxes – I was thinking how close I was to getting things back to where they should be.)

The invasive trees are the biggest concern and the most difficult to deal with. 

Something Simple Offsets My Loss of Enthusiasm.

Disheartened, I chose a simple strategy.

I turned to my side border (a/k/a my clothesline border) to give my eyes and brain something “easier to focus on”.  This is a border that I’ve been closing down except for a few plants and some areas that I’ll keep for extra plants that won’t fit in the garden area.

Tool in hand the first thing I did was take up the few pieces of grass that had come up in the part I keep edged.  Not sure how that made me feel better, but it did.

I was more ready to accept what had to be done in the garden.  Eventually it would be back to the way I like it: easy to keep.

Unexpectedly, this border ended up providing something for me to eat when I was on the floor unable to walk.

Fortunately, I had planted two Big Beef tomato plants, several cucumber plants, and a couple of honey nut squash there.  A little past mid July the tomatoes and cucumbers were producing. They were easily visible and accessible  (my garden was not) by a friend who harvested them for me.. They were something I would readily eat.  (A good thing since I was getting very thin.)

To the right of where the above picture ends is the tomato plant pictured below.  I regret I didn’t think to take a picture before I harvested over a dozen beautiful red tomatoes in mid September. It was a beautiful sight.

Below are two more that are fully ripe.  If they have any green on them when harvested they’ll be without  that wonderful sweetness they’re known for when baked.

Unfortunately, once they’re separated from the vine they won’t continue to ripen.

My Next Step was to Look over the gate at the upper end of the garden and see if the couple of watermelon plants made it.

As I approached the gate at the upper end – the first thing I saw is in the picture below.The melon vine had threaded itself through the fence and produced a beautiful melon (not yet full size) outside the garden.

 

I counted a dozen more inside the garden! Not having grown watermelons for at least 35 years,  these were a real treat.

They  ripened over a period of time in late August and September.  One regular sized and two small half-sized remain in the garden.

A Nod to Spring and Early Summer Crops

I have potatoes growing in various spots throughout the garden.

Harvested  about 5 pounds in May and June.

Not yet able to make my way to the sections with potatoes since being back on my feet.. But I feel confident they’ll be waiting for me when I get to them

Daylilies

Lots of beautiful day lilies in the garden. This one was a real show stopper this year.

Managed to save some Carrot Seed

This year’s Carrots

Spring plantings (3 of them) this year did not germinate well. None from the first planting and only a few from plantings 2 and 3. Disappointing, as I had planted delicious and beautiful varieties,  Kuroda and New Kuroda.

Sadly the voles had gotten to those while I was on the floor

They left about 3.  And  those had already gone to seed. So I guess the weather had fooled them into thinking it was their second year.

Hopefully I’ll get back out to them in time to save their seed. (To explain why I might not get back to them: If I can stay in one area when working the garden, I can get more done.  Moving so slowly takes a lot of valuable work time. Thus, I don’t always get to every place I’d like to.)

Even though it’s late I’m going to plant carrots again. If they germinate I may give them some winter protection.  If they don’t, I’ll hope to see them come up in the spring.

Crops I depend on to Volunteer  and a Problem that may be  Encountered this Fall

Dill

You’ll recall my writing about a new method I tried  this year to have fresh dill longer into the season.  By sowing seed bountifully in 12 inch diameter circles it lasted longer for fresh eating. I still had it short and beautiful the first of July.  Wish I had been able to see how long after that it lasted.

It was in a section close to the garden entrance. Thus, one of the first things I looked at when I got out there.

Only saw one little new seedling.  But didn’t see any signs of mature dill that had gone to seed.

Fortunately, I have plenty of seed from last year if I need it.

Arugula

I missed saving the seed from this arugula. Hope it dropped seed over a broad enough area that seed/seedlings won’t be buried under so much piled plant residue to prevent their germination/growth.

I was looking forward to having this new variety come up b0untifully this fall.  (Have to look for the package to find the variety since the id marker has disappeared.)

Cilantro/Coriander

I love lots of this plant in my garden. As with all herbs it’s great for beneficial insects.  I save seed each year but have yet to plant any.  It volunteers. Hopefully it will again.

It’s another herb with lot of health benefits. Rich in antioxidants, Vit. A, D and K. You’ll find even more if you do a search.

Purslane

In 2022 the seed I bought of purslane finally germinated and gave me enough that year for snacking while in the garden.

I noted the spot and tried to keep it clear so the plant would show up in 2023. It did but was small and skimpy.  I still held its spot.

This year it came back as a large plant that provided a lot of enjoyment and healthy snacking.

It’s rich in antioxidants, anti inflammatory compounds, omega-3 fatty acids, and is even said to protect against neurodegenerative diseases. If you do a search for its health benefits you’ll be amazed.

I hope it sets seed and will return even bigger in 2025.

Russian Kale

I don’t usually plant Russian Kale anymore, but depend on a few volunteers to add to salads and eventually set more seed.

Currently, the path to this plant in the garden is still obscured. Hopefully, it’ll still be there when the way is cleared.

Parsley (no picture)

As far as I’m concerned one can ever have too much parsley.

It seldom reseeds for me.  I plant lots of it in the hopes of having it come up everywhere – since usually half of what I plant disappears.

If it enjoys winter protection you can have it through the winter, although not as much as during the growing season.

It’s a source of Vit  A, C, K,  potassium, magnesium, calcium, and a variety of antioxidants.

Like curley parsley the best. Dislike the flat leaf although will use it if I don’t have curley.

I read somewhere long ago that cooks “in the know” use only the flat leaf. Wonder how that was determined?

What I Found in the Garden once I Got In

Beets

Didn’t get enough beets planted before I ended up on the floor.  The few leaves I was able harvest to add to salads were delicious. Not enough for a side dish of steamed beet greens though.

Harvested what I had in August. So good!

Will plant more for fall when a spot is cleared for them.

After Entering the Garden  this Cantaloupe is what I wanted to get to the most.

This was a beauty but I had to wait for it and another to ripen.  Delicious.

Had I been 2 or 3 days earlier I could have picked a ripe one, but it had started to decay the day I finally got to it. And two smaller ones never finished growing.

Butternut Squash Volunteered

Harvested 4.  Sadly, after I discovered Honey Nut Squash the  Butternuts are not appealing anymore.  But I have them just in case.

Snap Beans

I usually plant snap beans three times.  A dozen beans per spot is all I need. Those 12 beans grow and cover an area 4 feet across and give an unbelievable amount of beans.

By the time I got to the garden each planting had already produced beans. So they were past prime.

When you don’t harvest continually you don’t get as many beans.

In spite of that I did get a few meals of these beans after I “cleaned” the plants of the overly mature beans.

I planted this seemingly small amount of Christmas limas in May. The clump -as shown below is now taller than I am and well over 5 feet by 5 feet across. But no beans yet.  I’m thinking I didn’t plant in time — but if the weather holds I might still get beans.

I’m especially anxious to save their seed and keep them going into the future since a very dear friend shared them with me.

Cabbage

I planted cabbage last fall. One over wintered. I ate it in August when I got back to the garden. It was my favorite variety – Kalibos – shown below.

In spite of planting several varieties that looked  healthy in June,  none remained in August.

It’s my intent to plant again this month. (I know it’s late – but one thing is for sure — if I don’t plant I won’t get anything.)

Not pictured:

Cucumbers this year were fantastic and abundant through September. That’s a first for me.

Radishes –  Germination was not good in the first planting. Second and third plantings were wonderful and abundant. The first of July one variety was starting to set seed. Disappointingly, I was not up and about in time to get the seed.

I had eatable radishes still growing when I ended up on the floor.  I’ve not been able to get to that spot yet. Maybe I’ll be in time to save seed.

Peas – Germination poor this year. Still had some for the freezer.

Spaghetti Squash – is one of my favorite things. Have not grown it since Bill died.   Sadly, it needed some tending while I was down and it didn’t make it.

Onions – I’ve found most of the bulbing onions.  Had walking onions everywhere but so far have not found any. They’ll show up I think.

Sorrel – Only one plant to be found so far.

Lettuce for  Fall, Winter, and Early Spring of 2025

Below is the first planting for fall. Rather than start it in a small container I started it in a large grow bag in the garden. It holds longer  this way.  I’ve transplanted half of what you see in the picture below.

I still need to plant lettuce two more times in order to have it last in abundance until next year’s plantings gets going.

Saved seed from last falls planting this spring.

 

My roll of Oat Straw

This was suppose to be in the garden already.  It’s gonna be a bit late.

Purpose for the Post

The most popular posts are usually the seasonal garden reports.  This one is so different because of the garden being untended and turning into a jungle.

But if you’re looking, there is a lot of information here that may help you take a more realistic approach to whatever happens over the course of  any given year.  And as Bert said in a recent  comment  – “every year is different.”

I received an email the other day from a long-time reader and friend, Ray from Canada.  Diane of Diane’s flower Seeds referred Ray to TMG more than a decade ago.

Ray is an amazing long time gardener who at 90 years of age continues to garden and find easier ways to do things.

In his recent email he paid me a compliment that was/is dear to my heart.  He writes: “Whether I (comment on a post) or not I always read your posts and wish all others would/could read (TMG) —- so they don’t go through the nonsense I did (when) starting (to garden) and the money I spent.”

I think Harold agreed with that when he said in a recent comment, “The only money I spend on gardening these days is on seeds, and a new tool if needed. With saving seeds even that cost is going down. Free food…. What a concept!!”

Especially with the state of things today it’s important to be able to grow your own food.

One Final Thought

My thoughts and prayers have daily been with the many people whose lives have been up-ended to one degree or another (or totally destroyed) by what they are “calling” Hurricane Helene.

My problems are nothing by comparison.  And when I think of what these people are going through it puts all else into the proper perspective.

Our thoughts and prayers are more powerful than most of us realize. Not only can they have an effect on our life, but the lives of others as well. Collectively our consciousness (awareness, prayers, thoughts, and love) can bring about miracles.

Please join me in flooding the “air waves” with our collective prayers and thoughts for the benefit of all who need it. It WILL make a difference.

Much love to all,

Theresa

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