Belle held the fragile plants, inspecting the roots and timid stems… tomatoes, peppers, eggplant… We took turns sticking our hands into the prepared, tilled Earth… creating a hole to receive the plant (Baker disappeared into the woods all afternoon)…. Belle has decided that the care of the garden will be her responsibility. Watering… watching over… picking at just the right time. Tomatoes and Patience….
Gardening… it’s so similar to parenting… I’m no expert and I’ve not met one yet… but I’ll stand over my meager plants and watch them grow… pull the weeds that I think need removed…. allow a stray rabbit to visit now and again… take daily inventory…. separate invasive undesirables…. peruse the farmers’ almanac in preparation of the coming moon and frost….
“I Heart Tomatoes”…. I see this bumpersticker everywhere… I think it cleverly means “I Heart My Children.” It reads, “I’m headed home so I can watch them ripen” and “my tomatoes are all that matters to me.”
The sun has not yet shown herself this morning, but I’m on my porch straining to see down into the garden. I have big plans for it…. I know that the care put into it will produce a bountiful harvest….. I Love Tomatoes.