The End of Summer.

It's been ten months since I last updated this little web haven for my plant photos and musings. Ten months! Holy bajeezus - that's almost as long as it's going to take me to get my Master's degree.

We're at the height of the harvest season now. My heart is aching for the satisfaction of having a summer of hard work in the garden behind me, but to no avail. Next year, hopefully, I'll have all summer to dig my hands in good dirt and be a gardener. This year I'll have to be content with tomatoes I feel I barely cared for.

I started off the growing season with scores of tiny seedlings growing in my living room. They were my babies -- I took them to work with me, nestled them on my dashboard during the day so they could stay warm and sun-kissed while I worked. Even my co-workers on the farm thought I was a kook.

In late May/early June I potted them up and put them in the front yard. And then I was gone - off to start school and live in a city apartment with no porch, no patio, and no gardening space. I visited my tomatoes on weekends when I could, and my mom kindly took on the job of watering them.  Staking, fertilizing, pruning - I did it, barely.

But what my summer lacked in gardening, it made up for - tremendously - in teaching and learning. Teaching in the morning, going to class in the afternoons, and studying by night - it was quite the summer for personal and professional growth.

Tomorrow is my first day as a student teacher in an 8th grade science classroom. I can't tell you how excited I am for what this year will bring. Let the games begin!

And in the meantime, some photos from the (somewhat successful) garden.

Honeybee in the perennials

Gazania!

Look closely - there's a dragonfly

Beefsteak tomato - ready to be picked

"Mr. Volante's" Cornetta pepper

Look at those poodles! Lexie (left) and Cassie like to watch while I inspect the tomatoes.

Banana plant