Green Again

Editor's Note: This column was submitted for the week of Aug. 30.

I’d mentioned a while ago that my multiple summer trips had left my lawn rather parched, with multiple brownish patches. I’ve now stayed home long enough to have kept the sprinkler going. Combine that with those few cooler days, with some natural rain and even fog up here, and the lawn is again green and fairly lush. Granted, it’s not springtime lush, when the snow is newly melted and we’ve enjoyed the spring rains. But for this time of year, I’m pretty happy with it.

Dennis got excited enough about the green lawn that he purchased a new John Deere zero-turn mower for me. I guess I’ll be mowing more than just my lawn… It’s taking me in new directions - quickly. Anyway, there’s been a steep learning curve for me. At first, I was gripping the turn/speed up/slow down handlebars so tightly my hands cramped up and tried to go numb. It came with a “roll bar” sticking up right behind my seat. Being out of sight, I didn’t think about it until I ducked under the first low-hanging tree branch that had never been a problem with the old mower. Somehow the roll bar torqued that branch around so that it whiplashed and snapped the back of my hand. Once “blooded” though, I was mostly ready for the next low-hanging limb. At least that one didn’t draw blood - just a few colorful words. (The roll bar has been moved so that it now follows the mower instead of towering overhead.)

There are fewer low-hanging branches on the trees, and fewer limbs sticking out sideways from the lilac hedge. My battery-powered chainsaw got a workout. Those obstacles have been run through the wood chipper and are now mulch under the big tree beside my garden. I’d been planning to get that chore done. I guess I needed to get whapped by a branch. It was a tremendous impetus to quit procrastinating.

Now I need another impetus to clear the garden. Lots of the flowers (mostly the volunteer ones) are pretty well done and are busy going to seed. I could be pulling those, but I’ve been in a “live and let die” frame of mind. The gladiolus bulbs are finished with making blooms, but it’s too early to dig those. They’re busy putting nutrients into the bulbs for next years flowers.

The tomatoes are really starting to come on. There are too many to eat at once, yet not quite enough for canning. I could/should be freezing some. The corn is making smaller ears than I’d like. And fewer ears than in years’ past. Perhaps I should have weeded out the volunteer sunflowers and dill in that area? Who knew corn wanted ALL the sunlight and water? So greedy.

I’ve been cooking up beets and enjoying them with a drizzle of balsamic glaze. The beet greens, steamed, with a splash of champagne vinegar, are also very tasty. The carrots haven’t needed much - just hose off the dirt. Although I did make a pesto with basil, walnuts, a bit of oil, and salt and pepper that works as a nice dip. Pesto on a baked potato also makes a great quick meal. Once it’s cool again, I may bake a carrot (spice??) cake.

This last paragraph is for those who ask either Dennis or myself how’s harvest going? It isn’t - yet. There was a bit tested Saturday, and there’s still too much “green” in the coolies to actually run the combine yet. But those big machines will get fired up soon. We know it’s coming. I’m sure we’ll have fresh wheat going into the bins by the time I write next week (unless it rains a lot). Until then, keep enjoying the “after school has started” summer weather. And watch out for those angry hornets. I understand they’re vicious this year.