Garden Bum

I was dreadfully lazy this morning, and so it was around noon before I summoned the gumption to get dressed and poke my head outside.  It was humid, but not as mercilessly hot as it has been for the past few days.  Thinking a walk to the big garden might help me shake the fuzzies out of my brain, I put on my gardening shoes and set off down Nanny's driveway.

As I walked, I noted the sound of a lawnmower running.  It was hard to tell which direction the sound was coming from.  I glanced around, but didn't see any of the neighbors mowing.  A few yards farther down the driveway, I realized that I was heading in the direction of the sound.  The lawnmower sounded stationary, as if it was just idling.  I figured that Pop-Pop was mechanicing on something in his shed, until I got close enough to realize that the noise was coming from behind the shed. 

Sure enough, it was a lawnmower, an old riding model that Pop-Pop has been trying to resuscitate, just sitting there idling.  Good job! I thought, and strode on toward the garden, wondering where Pop-Pop was. 

Then I noticed that there was a tautly-stretched rope tied to the back of the lawnmower.  I followed the rope with my eyes.  It disappeared over the little hill behind the shed.  Wondering what was going on, I veered toward the hill, just in time to see Pop-Pop's head poke up.  As I got closer, I could see that the other end of the rope was tied to the front axle of another lawnmower, the one Pop-Pop uses all the time, that was stranded just under the hill. 

"Need some help?" I called.

"Grass was slick," he replied.  He hitched up his britches and asked me to come give a little push while he gave a little pull.  I stationed myself at the back of the lawnmower while he limped over to climb onto the other one.  With his little pull and my little push, we brought the mower over the hill.  I un-tied the ropes for him, trying not to snicker.

Parts of the big garden are looking rough.  We've had a lot of rain this week, and the tomatoes in the low spot look pitiful.  The green beans, butterbeans, and crowder peas seem to be enjoying the water, though.  The second crop of squash plants are coming along. but no blooms yet.  On the two original zucchini plants, which have surved drought, floods, and grandchildren, I found five squash, each one a foot long and as big around as a baseball bat.  I saw some squash bugs scurrying around, though.  Note to self:  those new squash plants will need bug poison this late in the season.

Pop-Pop has mowed down the purple hull pea vines from the first crop, and says he's going to plow that spot for me to re-plant, once the ground dries up enough. I'm not sure we'll have enough time to make another crop, but it can't hurt to try, I reckon.


I pulled grass from between the green beans, checked the okra (it needs cutting), and inspected the tomatoes more closely.  My guess is that they're succombing to both rain and blight.  The only plants that look healthy are the mini-Roma tomatoes; they are dripping with fruit.  Tomorrow, if this lazy mood passes, I'm going to pick them and make spaghetti sauce with them.