Lettuce give thanks.

I dare you to be unhappy in a garden where sunflowers grow.

This year’s garden has been a huge improvement over last year’s first effort. There is a saying, “Garden as though you will live forever”, but the realists among us know better. When you start gardening late in the game, it’s more like “garden like there’s no tomorrow” since we can’t be callow in assuming endless springs and summers to hone our craft.

I almost gave up last year when two months of work yielded only a paltry handful of tomatoes. But instead, I tripled down on the tomato plants this year, and we are definitely seeing red, in a good way!

The snap peas, like last year, have been a big success. It finally occurred to me to plant a second crop and keep it going – snap peas eaten off the vine are divine!

We’ve had peaches,

We’ve had plums,

And we’re even beginning to get some early potatoes. I planted Yukon Gems this year:

Last year’s basil crop was a disappointment but for some reason this year it has thrived.

And the Little Gem lettuce I planted is likewise flourishing.

I cannot explain the pure joy of stepping out to the garden to thin the lettuce and then making a salad from the tender cast-off plants, along with some snips of dill, a few cherry tomatoes and crisp snap peas. Yes, I am easily amused, but I also know how precious and rare those moments are when one wants for nothing. Gardens are good for the soul.

If you remain doubtful, I wish you could get a whiff of my sweet peas. They smell delicious!

At the end of the day, I realize I never left the house…and couldn’t be happier. So grateful for the garden!

Wishing everyone a happy 4th of July…the dahlias are from our garden, of course!