Sitting in the backyard with the dogs in the evening is well worth getting bit by a zillion mosquitoes just to be able to watch the awesome fireflies flitting around with their cigarette-lighter butts blinking in the twilight.

Now if only I had a lawn chair…

As many of you may remember, I tossed a few seeds in the crappy clay soil strip along our backyard fence earlier this year. I had no idea what to expect or if anything would actually come up and look good enough to eat. Two months later and things are green! I’ve already eaten four cucumbers the size of my forearm and replanted four rows that either died in the first hot spell (see Peas) or just never came up (see Herbs). Last year in Saskatchewan, we had to protect/cover/replant a lot of the garden after a freeze in June. The growing season is definitely different down here in Oklahoma and I’m learning a lot along the way.

Carrots
Green tops are growing big and strong. Whenever I see the carrots, I think of this video of Maddy.

Cucumbers
As mentioned above, I’ve already eaten four (sliced up with a little salt) and even though there are at least half a dozen more out there growing, the leaves are starting to look a little wilted and weathered.

Herbs
Cilantro doesn’t like the heat. Who knew? Everyone but me, I guess. We had a full, gorgeous row of delicious smelling leaves that bolted and flowered as soon as it was regularly over 80F. The parsley is going slow, but steady and we have more basil than an Italian family would know what to do with. The oregano and chives have yet to make an appearance. I’ve since read that they are both difficult to grow from seeds and that row will probably stay empty.

Honeydew & Cantaloupe
After the success with the watermelon, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to spend $1 on a packet of experimental seeds. Nevermind that I can get pre-sliced containers of both melons at the cafeteria any day of the week.

Onions
Harsh rains and a little hail have made the knee-high stalks look a little beaten, but they seem to be doing well.

Peas
Along with the cilantro, my pea plants did not survive the first wicked heat spell. They pushed out a few pods, fell over and wilted. Dang. Other than raspberries, peas are my favourite food to pick-and-eat outside. I replaced those rows with pumpkins (see below), cantaloupe, and honeydew.

Peppers
The hot and green pepper plants are growing taller and have pushed out a couple of blooms, but no veggies yet.

Pumpkin
A squirrel or bird stole all (except 2!) of my pumpkin seeds and plants. How cheeky! I want at least one pumpkin to carve this fall! Wondering whether I should try to replant-and-protect…

Watermelon
Even though they’re my favourite fruit, I’ve never tried growing watermelons before. I figured the growing season would be hot and long enough down here to praise my meager efforts. We have four! And one is already the size of a softball!

I know I inherited my gardening fascination from my mom. She has forgotten more about gardening than I will ever learn. I once read somewhere that the act of gardening places hope in tomorrow. I suppose that’s true. There are no immediate, short-term rewards in the garden. Everything takes time and patience and another tomorrow. From the moment seedlings first poke their heads through the soil, I just love watching everything get bigger and greener.

Oh, and see that green wire fence? Squirrels love to run through the power lines and trees in the yard behind us. I needed something to keep the dogs from tramping through. I guess an extra-exciting squirrel came by the other day because they took down the corner of the fence and half a row of onions. If they get to my watermelons… Oooooh boy! I will be mad!

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