~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~
Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!
{pretty}
I'm actually not a huge fan of radishes, and being proud of them in the garden (as one is, regardless) reminds me of a passage in C. S. Lewis' The Pilgrim's Regress. Mr. Sensible — a man who has no need for religion — claims to be self-sufficient and to live the good life; but his table is nearly all provided for from the munificence of other, more generous souls.
“Good morning, Drudge,” said John [for of course, Mr. Sensible has a down-trodden servant, though he claims to do all himself]. “What are you making?” “Radish beds, sir.” “Your master is a great gardener.” “Talks about it, sir.” “Does he not work in the garden himself?” “No, sir.” “It is a poor soil here.” “Does he manage to feed himself on his own produce in a good year?” “Feeds me on it, sir.” “What does the garden grow–besides radishes?” “Nothing, sir.”
But they are pretty, and nice to see when the other veggies are lagging.
{funny}
So we inherited a gazebo that is rather a funny structure. You can't really see in this picture (or maybe you can), but it tilts a bit, as the leach field* was built right up against it — perhaps the backhoe gave it a little nudge at some point in the construction process.
It's one of those things that is too sturdy to knock down but not really quite right enough to leave up. I'd love to redo the roof of it to be more romantic, or at least give it a shove from the other direction, but somehow I think that it's just going to stay the way it is. Projects like this tend to be more brilliant in one's mind — and higher up on the priority list — than in real life. I suppose if I were a real blogger I'd give it a fabulous re-do, huh? There are two vines planted out there that we have hopes of someday climbing up over the top, and maybe that will redeem us all somewhat.
Bridget did paint it two years ago, so there's that.
The hammock is a gift from a friend quite a while ago. We don't have two trees in good proximity to each other (at least, not where you'd want to relax, unless poison ivy, mosquitos, and prickly brambles sound relaxing to you).
And the hammock stand that we have somewhere in the garage isn't quite long enough, because this is a Nicaraguan hammock, not an American hammock. Plus, I was told in no uncertain Spanish-accented tones not to leave it out in the rain.
Finally this year as I felt it mocking me from the depths of the garage (AKA “the garage of death”), a light dawned on me from on high.
We do have a gazebo! However wonky! Maybe, just maybe, it would fit in there!
{real}
This is what my pantry/studio looks like at present, as scraps fly in every direction. Soon I will tidy it up.
{happy}
I promised pics of the garden so here you go.
An actual eggplant. Representative of actual eggplants on all the eggplant plants. My determination not to crowd things in the beds seems to be paying off.
Beans. I have, with trepidation, removed the chicken-wire from the top of the bean bed. I am hoping that the plants' robustness will now thwart the bunnies, which are legion. (The cat and the dog mainly stare at each other. Rarely and only with prompting do they chase a bunny, the free-loaders.)
Now, to me, these beds are all weeded. Before the festivities on the Fourth they will be weed-wacked (again) around the edges to hold down the garlic chives. So just go easy on me here.
By the way, someone left a comment that I cannot find anywhere, as to the paths between the beds. So, confidential to my dear unknown reader: The paths have weed cloth and are covered in wood chips. Over the years the wood chips do disintegrate and then weeds grow, because weeds grow here like, well, you know. Bridget hacked out all the weeds and then we laid down more chips. So for now, they are pretty good! (By my standards, which are, admittedly, low.)
Peppers! And tomatoes!
Soon this bed, below, will be taken over by those zucchinis (and the radishes will be done!) (and we can put the peas behind us, because they were a bust):
These cosmos plants, below, were volunteers in other beds, so I put them here by the compost bins. And then the gladioli from last year sprang up!
The basil is doing very well, both in the herb garden by the door and in the bed pictured up above that (contrary to my proclaimed intention) has lettuce, tomatoes, parsley, and basil (fourth garden picture). That makes me happy!
Thank you for bearing with me on this little tour of part of my garden! You are so kind. I do love it so, so much, modest though it be. And weedy.
_________
*If you don't know what a leach field is, you don't live in the country, and your party conversation must be difficult to keep up. What do people talk about, if not septic systems?
[inlinkz_linkup id=541438 mode=1]
mary says
The gazebo is pretty romantic as is!
The garden looks great. The only thing thriving here is my basil.
Laura says
There’s nothing like basil fresh from the garden.
That gazebo/hammock combo looks so inviting!
Sometimes I need my craft area to be a bit messy for the inspiration to spark! 😉
Leila says
Laura, I definitely need my craft area to be neat and tidy for inspiration — but once it strikes and is acted upon, wow wee!!
Kelsey says
1. I bought a bunch of radishes on impulse from a local produce market because they were… pretty. We don’t even eat radishes! (I was surprised to find how much like horseradish they taste, which would be obvious to most, though a revelation to me.) Thinly sliced and well salted, I actually somewhat enjoyed them.
2. Do you have any recommended resources for the ABSOLUTE NOVICE gardener? Assume no pre-existing knowledge of any kind.
Leila says
Kelsey, I have this post: http://www.likemotherlikedaughter.org/2010/05/gardening-chitchat/ and others about gardening — however, I have usually crammed too much into each bed, so learn from my mistakes.
I have a pinterest board with good ideas: https://www.pinterest.com/_leila/garden-inspiration/
And I recommend these books:
Betty Crocker’s Kitchen Gardens
The Victory Garden Kids’ Book (This one was given to our kids but I find it much easier to use than the adult one, which, as I have said before, makes you feel like a loser.
I also recommend reading about whatever it is that you want to plant (like tomatoes) or do (like make raised beds or a compost bin) in Mother Earth News.
And go to the library and get out books. And look on Pinterest for specific things (like lasagna gardening).
The problem is that most how-to books, understandably, provide ALL the information, when really you just want a LITTLE information.
So just find a sunny place to make one small raised bed, plant some tomatoes and basil (they still are selling those in the nurseries around here) and go from there.
Kelsey says
Thank you! Of course, you hit the nail right on the head. My problem is information overload! In this and many other matters… that’s one reason why I love you so much, you just kind of streamline things so that I don’t need to reinvent the wheel every twenty seconds.
Leane says
Hello Leila, After a long reprieve I am peeking back in and loving your pictures, your homey-ness! As someone commented on your Tuesday’s post, it gives one the feeling of “groundedness” in a world gone askew! Thank you!
Kim from Philadelphia says
How nice to have Bridget home with you! Is she working this Summer?
Jennyann1126 says
I do not like raw radish either, however, lactofermented radish is unbelievably easy, beautiful and delish. Slice radish thin and add to a glass quart jar. Pour a tablespoon of sea salt in the jar and cold filtered water, leaving an inch of space at the top. Seal and leave on your counter for a week. They will ferment and turn into bright pink amazing pickles.
Leila says
Jennyann, I’m going to try this!
Mrs. B. says
For the Funny dept., here’s a link to an article that shows what arranging books says about you: http://dappledthings.org/7678/what-does-your-bookshelf-say-about-you/
(though the “Laura Engels Wilder” is one of creepiest typos I’ve ever seen!!)
Maurisa says
Love the gazebo! The tilt gives it just the right touch of whimsy. I know more about septic systems and leach fields than I ever wanted! Unfortunately, the previous owners of our home did not know enough and that is how we became so intimately acquainted with it! LOL! Love your sweet garden.
Rebekka says
I dislike radishes neat, but my mom makes a radish salad that I love, and which is a hit with anyone else who ever has tried it. That I know of. Slice them thinly or grate them with a food processor (or if a glutton for punishment and don’t mind eating your fingernails, grate by hand). Mix with fresh chopped parsley, salt and pepper, and toss with oil and vinegar to taste. It turns pink if you save the leftovers but it’s a very pretty salad fresh.
The gazebo would be adorbs with a sod roof. Just saying.
Leila says
Rebekka — you interest me strangely. (Especially as we seem already to be on that particular road as it is!)
Donna Marie says
I have black wire shelving like that for my pantry… You know what I love about it? You can hang so much in a neat way off of the sides to give you more space. I use showercurtain-type S hooks and I hang pretty baskets (that I thrifted) off of the sides. I have one for measuring cups and spoons, one for coffee items for dh, etc. Mine is right by my counters, so I got these hooks you are supposed to use for tools and I use it as my cookbook stand!
They are so versatile.
anel says
Radishes are fantastic thinly sliced in coleslaw. Mmm… They are also great with any form of mutton dish – fresh, on the side. (or am I supposed to call it ‘lamb’?) Anyway, also: Mmm…
Mia says
I am unfortunately too familiar with what a leach field is, having had to replace ours a few years ago. Here in Eastern Washington, we call it a drain field. Right now all the party conversations are about our unusually dry and hot weather and the high fire danger. Your garden looks lovely and I love the hammock. Now you can lay in it and listen to the rain falling.
Jennifer says
We get so many radishes through our CSA, and none of us like them. I have tried every recipe known to man and we still didn’t like them. Then, my daughter decided to try pickling them in dill brine. They are delicious! Taste just like a dill pickle but maintain more of a crunch than cucumbers do. We make them into refrigerator pickles, just put in a jar with vinegar, garlic, fresh dill, and peppercorns and let sit for two weeks.
Oh, septic systems, they do work themselves into every conversation! LOL!
Lara says
Thank you for pointing out the cosmos!! I was vaguely ambitious this Spring and dumped several packets of miscellaneous seed into a flower bed, but I have NO IDEA what I’m supposed to see!! I recognized the cosmos as a few scraggly plants hiding in the Bermuda grass, so I’ll take care not to pull them out (if I ever get around to it!). I have a brown thumb…
Valerie says
Gazebo, hammock and garden…like PARADISE! (just add a good book and cup of tea).
Kate says
If you are in CA, septic conversation has taken a backseat to well discussions. Are you on city or do you have your own well? Has your well gone dry? Having problems getting water? How deep is your well? Do you think you’re going to have to drill an new one? What about that El Nino? I think the young people are really getting tired of this adult theme and would welcome a return to septic chit-chat.
I envy you your hammock and gazebo (oh, what a fort my boys could make of it). And your water (but not your septic).
Tess says
Off to google the words “leach field”… 😉
Stephanie says
-To perhaps help your liking of radishes along, and in the spirit of Deirdre’s French-inspired tart, I offer you the manner in which we eat radishes in France: “à la croque au sel.” Dip the radishes in a bit of salt, or sprinkle the radishes with a bit of salt. Eat a lightly-salted radish followed by a nice bite of good crusty bread (think baguette or a country loaf) with a bit of butter on it. (Not that I’m advocating excessive salt or butter intake, you know, everything in moderation and so forth! And/or one can just think of the beneficial properties of radishes and make oneself eat them, I suppose!) 🙂
-When I saw the asterisk next to the “leach fields” mention, I figured there would be a simple explanation of leach fields at the end of the post. I got a BIG laugh out of the thought of discussing them as a main topic of party conversation! “Nice weather today… the Red Sox did okay yesterday… so how often do you have to have your septic tank pumped out here, anyway?”
-When I saw the {happy} title over your garden photos I was puzzled for a moment because I thought the gazebo/hammock chat was the {happy} part of the post – Bridget (and the whole atmosphere of the photos!) just looks so peaceful and at ease! Wishing you all a blessed and happy summer, in and out of the gazebo! Surely the tilt gives it a charm not unlike that of the Tower of Pisa? 😉
Alea says
Well, since you brought it up . . . We call is a sewer pond or lagoon here, but leach field sounds a little more vague in a nice way. But maybe it’s a bit different too. Ours is actually a pond-like thing and maybe yours is just a grassy area? We are have a major mosquito problem here, and I think that might be where it’s coming from. Online sources tell me that if the grass is too high the they can breed in between is all so it should be weed-whacked around the edge. But who wants to crawl down the bank on that!? I bought the floaty donut things to kill the eggs instead.
We also don’t eat much for radishes, but they come up so fast that’s it’s hard not to plant them. It’s about as close to instant gratification as you can get to with a garden. For some reason this year, I cannot get lettuce to grow. We have planted twice – and we don’t have rabbits. As I always tell a friend of mine – at least we don’t have to rely on it for survival like our ancestors!
Kari says
We just moved to the country, so although I knew what a leach field was, I’m learning the ins and outs of having one! So, can you plant a tree on or near a leach field? or is that a terrible idea? I’m thinking apple or cherry…lots of good fertilizer?
Thanks!
Kari
Leila says
Kari, you can’t plant anything with deep or invasive roots ON the leachfield! Look it up so you can understand what it is and avoid costly repairs 🙂 There are pipes under there and it has to be able to drain and be free of things growing in amongst them.
I am waiting for someone to come up with some inventive things to do with it other than plant grass.
You can put trees NEXT to it and if you look at our pictures, you will see that the sides of our leach field have lots of plants growing. However, you also want to have access to it with a backhoe in case of disaster. So don’t ring it with trees or anything 🙂