Finding Shelter From Storms

   All of us have our times where we feel the need to take shelter whether it be from bad weather, other people or simply from our own emotions.  I have been feeling like that lately.  It feels like I am being twisted by a violent maelstrom that is pulling me deeper and deeper into the depths.  I am tired.  I am overwhelmed.  I am bewildered. When I feel like this, I stroll the Small Gardens and think.  The brain can wander without constraint.  Any number of magical events can occur and bring a bit of peace and happiness to my heart.  The gardens are where I seek shelter...they are my refuge. 

  A couple of days ago, my sweet niece came to visit.  She and I seem to be kindred spirits in more ways than one.  We can see the beauty in the simplest of thing and can pray away our troubles while meandering among the botanical wonders that surround us.  After she left, I headed back to the vegetable plot to check the squash.  It had rained the night before and the leaves were still drippy wet.  Most were hanging low over the blossoms as if they were offering shelter.  As I pushed aside one large leaf, my heart gave a little flutter.  Nestled deep inside of the large, yellow squash bloom were two tiny bees.  Snuggling together, the two had sought shelter from the overnight storm.  The squash plant had offered a safe-haven for them and they were reluctant to leave since the raindrops were still dripping from the leaves.  Gently....ever so gently, I lowered the umbrella leaf back over the two tiny beings and smiled.  I had found refuge simply by observing bees that sought shelter, as well.

  Folks, be kind.  It all goes back to that old saying "If you wouldn't like something done (or said) to you, don't do (or say) it to others.  

Tiny Golden Britches!

  The other day as I watered the garden patch, I pondered why squash plants were not considered to be some elaborate, sought after plant for flower gardens.  The leaves are attractive, the blooms are exquisite and the plants are relatively easy to grow.  Then as an added benefit, you get squash to eat!  It seems to me that everyone should plant squash!  In fact, even though I have two rows in the vegetable plot, I opted to plant a dozen more plants in front of the moonflower fence!  I figured the bright yellow blooms would look right nice with the backdrop of large, white moonflower blooms!

  Then a day later, the blooms caught my eye again.  This time, it was because a bee was busying itself inside the blossom.  The fat, little bee was collecting so much pollen that it appeared to be covered with gold dust!  The once solid black bee had on pollen pants!  Seeing this gave me another reason to love squash.  

  Our pollen-collecting bees (of all types) are being put in danger on a daily basis and I am not referring to the so-called "murder hornet" (don't even get me started on the media hype about that!).  People are putting the bees in danger by using so many insecticides.  Yep, I am in a tizzy about the caterpillars on my four o'clock leaves but I am sure not going to douse everything with insecticides.  The sprays are not discriminate to the point that they kill only certain "pests" and not the beneficial insects.  I figure if the caterpillars stay on the four o'clock leaves perhaps they will forgo the tomato plants.  Also, I am depending on the lizards, wrens and ground wasps to do their jobs!   That way, I can enjoy watching the bees pollinate my lovely squash and the bees will not be in peril.

The Beauty of Squash!

  It is my longstanding habit of rising before the sun and starting the day with a trip to the pier then back to the gardens.  This is a throwback to my childhood when I was either fishing with Pop or hoeing weeds with him during the early morning hours.  He instilled the love of both in me and I carry that with me to this day.  Fishing and farming!

  This morning as I was tending the garden, a thought occurred.  Why are squash plants not considered to be "flower-garden worthy"?  The broad leaves of the plant are just as showy as any hosta and the blooms can top just about any lily.  The plants are beautiful and also produce supper!  What more could you ask?  I knelt in the soft dirt to get a really good look at the squash bloom and was greeted by a number of tiny bumblebees as they gathered the pollen.  It seems that those and the honeybees fully appreciate the squash plants!  

  Squash are separated into two categories...summer squash and winter squash.  Zucchini, yellow crook neck and pattypan are types of summer squash and butternut, acorn and pumpkins are winter squash.  A lot of folks think that "winter" squash are planted in the cooler months but this is not so.  They are called that simply because they have tougher skins and can be stored for a long time during winter.  While it is not that common today, years back, folks harvested the winter squash and stored them for use during the cold months when it was hard to have a garden.  The tough skins kept the squash from rotting or becoming dried.  This provided food when times were lean.  I still overwinter a basket of butternut squash in the back room and pumpkins wherever I find a place to put them!  They last just fine and provide many a meal when the garden is planted with winter crops.  That, my friends, is the beauty of squash...other than their fine leaves and lovely blooms!