Early in June, we had the opportunity to visit the backyard of a friend who had lived in Fairfield for about fifty years. He is the only living, original owner left in his neighborhood. His space is shaded by a patio cover and multiple trees.
The leaves of this unique-looking house plant really do look like the rind of a ripe watermelon. The stems are also reminiscent of the fruit-they are a rich red, just like the edible flesh of a ready-to-eat watermelon. I purchased this houseplant as a gift to myself, and I'm very happy I did.
June 21st is considered the longest day of the year, or the summer solstice. On this day, I rage against the dying of the light, then accept that my onions and garlic will not get bigger, shift my focus to my summer fruiting plants, and breathe.
This year, did you decide that you were going to start a garden in your backyard and start growing your own vegetables rather than buying them from the store?
In Henry David Thoreau's essay, Walking, he observed, In Wildness is the preservation of the world. I have always viewed Thoreau's vision as a statement of forward-thinking hope.
