the end of the story

So we harvested everything above ground that we could before the first major frosts, and then we left what we thought would look interesting underneath the snow to overwinter.

We will definitely be growing corn again next year, not because of a bumper crop (although the 30 ears or so that we did get were so sweet we generally didn’t bother cooking them, but ate them outside, right off the stalk, giggling when we squirted each other with the exploding kernels), but because they are fun to look at all winter, and in the summer you can literally watch them grow over the course of the day.

And one lonely little pepper that we missed.

waiting for spring

We were away for a wedding this weekend, and on returning discovered we have more snow in Edmonton than when we left. I honestly had the thought last week that it was a pity there wasn’t more of the stuff on the ground. For someone who sees winter’s sole purpose as a time for plants to rest so they can do their thing come warmer weather, I struck myself as being strangely out of character. And I got my wish.

And so begins ‘Letting it Grow’. I am trying to fulfill the white void that 6 months of snow creates with a cyber greening. If I reflect on the past summer and daydream about the one to come, there is some gardening joy to be found, even when mine is lying dormant and leafless. I write this inaugural post in hopes that I can connect with/learn from/be inspired by those of you who are in the same proverbial boat–all of us waiting for the first signs that we will soon be digging and bending, hauling and coaxing.

But until then, I offer my sadly un-green thumb and its accompanying fingers in a virtual shake of hope. The next post will be the story of our first steps in creating a space for plants around our home. Tell me yours. Give me green.