After working on an inspiring documentary project, I started a raised bed vegetable garden. This will be the second year of the garden, last years cucumber harvest being much more successful. Last year the murderous cucumbers grew so much they overtook the rest of the garden, wrapping their tentrils around anything they could – including the strangled brussel sprouts. They produced a bountiful crop of medium sized cucumbers and would have continued to produce had the cold weather not set in. Looking forward to another plentiful crop of cucumbers I eagerly awaited their growth this spring as I planted the new seeds. But the seeds were slow to grow. Impatiently considering that I must have planted them too early or too deep, I planted another set of seeds, as well as a few seedings gifted to me by the farm. They finally did start to grow, however not nearly in as much abundance. As summer faded into fall, the cucumbers finally reached a large enough size to harvest. One regularly shaped cucumber and a few small tadpole shaped ones along with a few grape tomatoes that managed to ripen. Although small in quantity and monstly still green, the tomatoes did do better this year than last year.

I’m not sure if the oddly shaped cucumbers were due to a different variety of seeds that I planted (I dont remember what kind I had last year, but I remember the seeds were very green), the lack of rain due to drought, or a difference in soil.

This year the lettuce was far more successful, replenishing itself three times after being harvested. Suprisingly it was not dug up buy a mysterious critter like last year in spite of being out in the open.

The transition from summer to fall always feels bittersweet. I love the changing of the leaves and the cool crisp weather, but I lament the end of my garden for the season. The days grow shorter and colder, and nothing will grow until spring comes again. But spring will come again, and with it another chance at a bountiful garden.