Tending to the Garden

Week of August 15 – August 21, 2021

photo of Melissa Kirby, environmental educator

by Melissa Kirby, Naturalist

One of my favorite things about summer is that satisfying moment when I can pluck the first red tomato from one of my plants. In another week I’ll be walking out onto my porch and harvesting the plethora of tomatoes that have been growing in their containers since May.

You could say that growing and tending to a garden is a part of who I am. My father’s family were farmers, and on my mother’s side a green thumb has been passed down through the generations. I can still envision the expansive and beautiful garden of my great grandmother and her tending to it, even on the hottest of days.

In my garden is where I find a connection to my food and an appreciation for the gifts of nature that make it possible for plants to grow. The sun, rain, bees and other insects, and the warm nights all contribute to the plentiful harvest. All efforts are appreciated as I use what has grown to eat and to share. Do you have a garden at home? If you don’t and would like to start one, consider perusing through the Old Farmer’s Almanac website to familiarize yourself with plants you can grow during the gardening season. https://www.almanac.com/gardening/planting-calendar/NY/Syracuse

green and red tomatoes-on-vine
summer-garden-harvest with bowl of cherry tomoatoes and cucumbers on a patio table
yellow-squash-on-vine
summer-garden-bed with garden gnome on corner