Call me a garden geek, but it’s really exciting when tiny plants start popping where you simply put a teeny tiny seed under some dirt with a sprinkling of water. Our last minute lettuce is thriving: beautiful baby leaf lettuce just like I used to buy from a bag! And almost all the carrots have tops. After letting the basil and gardenias go to seed naturally in the winter, I’m now finding tiny plants all over the herb garden. It’s amazing how nature runs its course when given the opportunity.
I also have a new-found grudging respect for grass. First, it’s ability to grow back with a vengence quickly and lushly with little help. A few weeks ago, I was concerned about the large pasture area not coming in. Now, it’s our horses best friend. Second, the root system of a clump of grass is mind boggling and really impressive. We’ve spent countless hours pulling grass clumps and weeds out of the newly tilled and much larger pasture garden (with many more hours to come). You think you’re just pulling a few grass strands, then comes the root. It keeps coming and coming and coming. The root system is so extensive and complex, you just know that even when you think you’ve reached the end, there’s still a sliver lurking deep down in the depths of the soil that will pop above ground a few days later stronger than the last one you just pulled out. Really very impressive…and annoying…and back-breaking.
And though I’m excited about all the green popping above ground. I know it’s going to be a long and telling few months before we hopefully see the literal fruits of our labor. There’s still the bugs and weeds and nibbling animals to contend with. Not to mention, the frustrating unforeseen — like beautiful green plants, but no fruit, or worse, fruit that just doesn’t make it. Well, at least we know we’ll have salad and pesto!