That's absolutely beautiful
@Crazy Gardner .
Thanks very much, it has been a long drawn out effort, after our garden failed so badly from the drought we had last summer, I wanted really badly to correct the problems and build on the successes we did have, gardening can be such a simile for life sometimes.
I just can't get over the change in the peppers, they have come the farthest since transplant, I wasn't sure any would survive the low 40 degree temps at the end of May. I had a hard time hardening a ton of my plants, but mostly the peppers. I think if I look back, I have pictures of the day after transplant, and almost every pepper was 2 to 4" high with 4 to 6 leaves. They all had sunburn, and I was most certain I had killed them, almost cried when I saw how badly they looked the day I had to come home.
I don't want to delve too deeply into my beliefs of where society is heading, but for me, having a pantry full of food in the fall is more then just a blessing, it's what we should all strive towards. My great great grandparents farmed the land I'm gardening on about 150 years ago in what must have been the worst conditions imaginable. Stones everywhere. Manitoulin is well known for its debris fields of moraine, left over from galciers past. Every square inch of land had from pebble sized to boulder sized stones. It was all cleared by hand back then. Our lot is the cleanest of the stretch of 5 lots on our road, and I am thankful for it. I still removed 25 or so wheelbarrow loads last year and at least that many more this year, we have a 3' high wall about 50' long at the back of the property now.
Many of you wouldn't be familiar with Manitoulin Island, but it is the world's largest fresh water island. It is an almost magical place to me, last spring driving back and forth so much, I got to see the changes in the colours of the leaves bit by bit. I told my Dad, that there seems to be a kind of green unique to the area, it's such a fresh, vibrant colour that only last a few short weeks, but it is so nice to know that nature is telling me that it's nearly planting time with its built-in clock.
This June, I was able to take my middle son up with me, and mentioned to him my theory, which he didn't seem all that keen on. We did have a great time, got fishing even, and my son caught a 4 lb lake trout. On the way back home, out of the blue he was looking out the window, and said to me, how I was right about that special colour of green. I really smiled inside and out.
Evan proud of his catch.
Me, proud of my boy.
A couple of Manitoulin sunsets from my Dad's porch.
