Into the Woods

Corn on the cob in a few more days

After several brutal summers, the summer of 2012 is going pretty well at the abbey. While 60 percent of the country is in drought, the abbey lies in a narrow no-drought area of western North Carolina. There was a period in early July when the temperature went over 100 degrees for four days in a row, but after that hot spell let up, friendlier weather followed. It’s been almost a month since I had to irrigate the garden. Rainfall has been doing the job.

Some things are looking a little shabby — whether from heat, the work of insects, or other pests I’m not sure. But for the most part, everything is doing what everything ought to do in summer — growing like crazy. I’m particularly happy to see my young trees growing. Previous years have been very hard on newly planted trees. I could never carry enough water. But the rainfall has been sufficient this year to keep all the young trees growing nicely.

In short, I’m not complaining. The long-range forecast doesn’t look too bad. For those of you who are in parts of the country that are being hit hard by heat and drought, I am very sorry. I know what that’s like.

Muscadine grapes

As the trees grow, increasingly the abbey can hide behind them and look shy.

Some of the tomato leaves are looking bad. The tomatoes will be OK, though.

Four rows of late corn and beans

Green pepper, soon to go into chutney with green tomatoes

I put up seven quarts of dill pickles today. Big ugly cucumbers make big ugly pickles, but they’ll be fine. When I’m canning, I think how nice it will be for Ken to get to eat some of what he planted. He’s in Alaska at the moment.

A shabby rose

Arbor vitae trees, growing strong

Chrysanthemums

The abelias bloomed for the first time this year.

Misty after 1.2 inches of rain fell this afternoon

The first tree I planted here, an arbor vitae. It was four feet tall then; it’s about 12 feet tall now.