I was amazed to see how much the garden has spurted in the couple of days since I went by to water it last. The Isis Candy Tomato, the Brandywine and the Cayenne Pepper plants all have flowers (yeah! But you can't really see one in this picture).
I wish my plot in the community garden was in my backyard and that I didn't have to drive to it. I'd like to just hang out there, read a book and observe the wildlife all around. When I got there, there was a huge flock of birds (sparrows, likely) in the lower portion of the garden that swooped up into the air as I opened the gate. It's like they know they're not supposed to be there, eating all the seeds/seedlings. Anyway, there were so many of them it was a downright Hitchcock moment.
Still, it would be nice to just sit there and forget about things -- pretend that this is the way the world really is, full of green growing things, the promise of abundance and life.
How vainly men themselves amaze
To win the palm, the oak, or bays;
And their uncessant labors see
Crowned from some single herb or tree,
Whose short and narrow-vergèd shade
Does prudently their toils upbraid;
While all the flowers and trees do close
To weave the garlands of repose.
Fair Quiet, have I found thee here,
And Innocence, thy sister dear!
Mistaken long, I sought you then
In busy companies of men:
Your sacred plants, if here below,
Only among the plants will grow;
Society is all but rude,
To this delicious solitude.
No white nor red was ever seen
So amorous as this lovely green;
Fond lovers, cruel as their flame,
Cut in these trees their mistress' name.
Little, alas, they know or heed,
How far these beauties hers exceed!
Fair trees! wheresoe'er your barks I wound
No name shall but your own be found.
When we have run our passion's heat,
Love hither makes his best retreat:
The gods who mortal beauty chase,
Still in a tree did end their race.
Apollo hunted Daphne so,
Only that she might laurel grow,
And Pan did after Syrinx speed,
Not as a nymph, but for a reed.
What wondrous life is this I lead!
Ripe apples drop about my head;
The luscious clusters of the vine
Upon my mouth do crush their wine;
The nectarine and curious peach
Into my hands themselves do reach;
Stumbling on melons as I pass,
Insnared with flowers, I fall on grass.
Meanwhile the mind, from pleasure less,
Withdraws into its happiness:
The mind, that ocean where each kind
Does straight its own resemblance find;
Yet it creates, transcending these,
Far other worlds, and other seas;
Annihilating all that's made
To a green thought in a green shade.
Here at the fountain's sliding foot,
Or at some fruit-tree's mossy root,
Casting the body's vest aside,
My soul into the boughs does glide:
There like a bird it sits and sings,
Then whets and combs its silver wings;
And, till prepared for longer flight,
Waves in its plumes the various light.
Such was that happy garden-state,
While man there walked without a mate:
After a place so pure and sweet,
What other help could yet be meet!
But 'twas beyond a mortal's share
To wander solitary there:
Two paradises 'twere in one
To live in Paradise alone.
How well the skillful gard'ner drew
Of flowers and herbs this dial new;
Where from above the milder sun
Does through a fragrant zodiac run;
And, as it works, th' industrious bee
Computes its time as well as we.
How could such sweet and wholesome hours
Be reckoned but with herbs and flowers!
Haven't got the time for a proper post, but I'm excited for the community garden this summer. I've got an additional plot in a really sunny location. I'm going to try some lemon cucumbers and rainbow quinoa amid the old standbys, tomatoes, squash and eggplants. In my old plot, the sweet woodruff and hyssop took off beautifully, as did the French sorrel that appears in the recipe below. In that plot, I'm going to plant an herb/greens garden. I've already put in some rainbow chard mixed in with the Japanese mustard greens.
