Garden is in full swing in August

I find it hard to believe that August is here already. I don’t know why the days, weeks and months go by in an instant while the hours and minutes drag by. I am guessing that is one of those side effects of getting older that nobody talks about.

The garden is finally beginning to produce more than the occasional snow pea. I must have bought a different strain of cherry tomatoes than what I intended to buy. These seem to be a very dark, almost black variety. The one I tried was tasty so maybe it was a happy accident. Of course, I have already tossed the labels that came with the plants.

The regular tomatoes are a lovely shade of pale green and show no indication that they will someday turn red. I’m guessing that they will all ripen on the same day. The beans have slowed production. I cooked up a mess of them the other day. I probably should have fixed them the day before. They weren't as fresh as I prefer them to be and I pitched a few of them. We have eaten the first cucumber of the season. It was delicious. I am convinced that there are a bunch of them waiting to reveal themselves after they get as big as footballs.

As I have said before, I am always surprised that I find gardening to be relaxing and enjoyable because it was the exact opposite when I was a kid. Perhaps the difference can be attributed to getting to choose when and where I garden as opposed to being told what to do and when to do it.

The element of choice is a powerful thing. It can also be overwhelming. I have found that offering a choice of this or that is much more likely to get an answer than offering an endless supply of choices.

In years past I would be on the hunt for Mom’s birthday present. Her birthday is at the end of the month. She usually wanted whatever discontinued item she had found in a magazine somewhere. I used to complain about it. What I wouldn't give to go shopping for her one more time.

Harvesting and shopping are two things that define August for me. For most of the town where I live, August also means endless yard sales. The Tri-State Antique Gas Engine and Tractor show comes at the end of the month. It draws people from all over the world. Old tractors and engines are only a part of the attraction. Almost everyone in town sets out their unwanted possessions in hopes that they can make a few dollars and declutter at the same time. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.

August is also when school starts back up for many children these days. I suppose I am showing my age when I say that we never started school in August. The day after Labor Day was when we went back to school.

My mind is scattered these days. It bounces from tomatoes to school and the way things used to be. Then I wonder about the passage of time and go back to missing my mom. Thoughts are often incomplete. Nevertheless, I hope you find something of value in these words if only to find that you are not the only one who bought the wrong cherry tomatoes.