We were green once,
in salad days,
fixed firm to umbilical vine,
slowly orange,
until, soaked in sun brine,
we plumped to red.
All as written by some sightless scribe
ordaining how life seeds,
or maybe
by some deliberate kindness
in back yard dirt
that soul and body feeds.
Gardeners wonder.
With thanks to Shakespeare
and to my firstborn, Dennis, the backyard gardener.
Oddments 
September 3, 2021 at 5:10 pm
Tell Dennis I’m impressed. I don’t see any blight there. I sure can’t say the same. 🙂 Mine are about done, but they’ve performed well in this crazy weather we’ve had. I think they’ll get pulled out the end of the weekend. I know everyone loves fall, but to a gardener it’s kind of sad. Although, it’s like the circle of life. Hope you have a good weekend, friend. We did our errands early this morning and will hang close to home while the tourists flock in.
September 3, 2021 at 5:59 pm
I will pass the word along — thanks! I am a little jealous of his harvest this year but most enthusiastic about sharing it! I too have started to pull up and cut back and with a little melancholy; gardeners can’t help it. I can’t say that tourists flock to central Indiana, but I’m sticking close to home anyway. I just made some pickles and they look pretty good, so maybe more pickle-making this weekend. Maybe crumb cake…
A good weekend to you too, friend!
September 4, 2021 at 8:36 pm
My NH gardening friend who moved back to IN to be near family seems to be a regular visitor to the UP. She just headed there this morning – third trip this summer.
September 4, 2021 at 9:46 pm
The Upper Peninsula? Wow, she must love to drive! That’s a beautiful place, though.
September 5, 2021 at 11:52 am
Yep, they go back and forth like they’re going to the corner market. I guess it makes them happy.
September 5, 2021 at 2:52 pm
Good gracious! I wonder if the UP reminds them of NH and that’s why they go. NH to IN could be a tough transition, especially when a good friend is left behind.
September 3, 2021 at 10:12 pm
Nicely done. Cheers to the home gardeners.
September 3, 2021 at 10:59 pm
Thank you! And cheers indeed!
September 6, 2021 at 3:51 pm
As someone who loves tomatoes, how could I fail to be delighted by this, Maureen? 😀
I remember standing in my Granny’s garden as a little girl. I picked a tomato and the juice ran down my arm as I stood there and ate it.
Happy September. Hugs on the wing.
September 6, 2021 at 5:03 pm
Happy September to you too, Teagan! May you have more tomato-y arms!