A December Day's Harvest

The lima beans are still not ready to come off the vine. But we are watching them with great anticipation. Our first try for these at Hoe & Shovel, they are sure to be a hit with the Mister. Mr. Meems is a big fan of this vegetable. I'm hoping to please his easy soul when once they decide to mature.

My small garden is very green this autumn. The tomato plants are way bigger than I expected. All but one of these started from seed in August. I've had the chance to be in the garden quite a bit the last two weeks. The weather this far south has just been so gloriously perfect I am having the worst case of Gardener's Attention Deficit Disorder... or some such. Take yesterday for instance.

We Interrupt the Regularly Scheduled Christmas Decorating

It was mid-morning. The tree was standing in the middle of the living room and I had strung all the lights. Now for the ribbons. There I was midway into ribbon tucking ... minding my own Christmas decorating agenda:

• Finish decorating Christmas tree
• Put empty boxes of decorations away
• Do some housecleaning.. Do some housecleaning. Do some housecleaning...

After saying over and over in my own head - I wish I could be in the garden right now and not stuck inside decorating this silly lovely tree... at one moment I'm following the plan for the day and the next thing I know I'm outside taking a peek at the garden.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh, now all is right with the world. Okay. We'll just mind the veggie garden and do a few other little things. Just forrrrrr .... let's see, we'll go right back inside in an hour... or maybe an hour and a half. But no more than that. Now that my 'gardening me' is in agreement with the 'resistant to decorating today me' we can both relax. Let's simply breathe in the goodness of this perfectly beautiful fresh air, blue skies and autumnal angled sunshine. Yes, those are birds you hear singing; cheering me along at my decisions.

Picking a couple of handsful of pole beans and green beans is a good place to start. A little to my surprise, I just kept finding more dangling beauties under the big green leaves that nurture them so nicely.

The veggie garden has been a bit stunted in producing fruit due to the colder weather. But oh, my, has it been easier to tend than the summer garden! With no humidity and temps favorable to humans and plants alike there haven't been any bugs. A few grasshoppers, yes, but no worms either. I'm so glad I planted for this season although I must admit I forget to water occasionally. Since I'm not in the garden each day and it is a hyper-busy time of year it is easy to let a morning pass without getting to the north side for a perusal. No worries. Unlike the summer garden this milder climate for growth isn't requiring as much water.

No tomatoes have turned red yet. I've crowded way too many plants in my small garden again. I thought I did better at that this time but it is not the case. It's been a couple of seasons of trial and error for this novice vegetable gardener. I'm holding out for a few more beds for the spring planting. Maybe that will solve my over planting tendencies. hmmmm.

Well, that hour and a half I alotted my 'gardening self'' turned into 4 hours yesterday. I was up very late last night finishing up the tree. But you know what? When it's dark outside I don't mind so much being shut indoors.

I sure hope my dear readers are doing better than I am at focusing on Christmas tasks and lists. If anyone has any good advice for keeping me out of the garden for the next 16 days, I am all ears. There is certainly a lot that still needs to be accomplished to make that day successful. :-)

Happy December, Meems