Visiting local gardens is always a treat. The Open Garden Days are just one aspect of the Cornucopia Network’s many initiatives. It’s helpful to see how others manage to coax a tomato crop out of a small plot of land, and learn the secrets of other people’s composting routines. The luscious grapes and peaceful fountain pictured here and in the jump come from a beautifully nurtured garden on Bruce Road, one of the gardens on the tour. Gardener Pat Kenschaft has been opening her well-tended Montclair garden on Gordonhurst Road for years. This year left her feeling especially cheerful about the whole event and she was kind enough to share her write up of the day with us.
The crop getting the most attention was probably the Malabar spinach, which is now taking over the main garden fence where the peas should have been earlier. There was enough for every visitor to pick and eat one leaf, and the responses were gratifying. Those of you who can bring an envelope to the next Open Garden on Saturday, September 19 from 2-4 PM, can pick Malabar seeds and sow them again next year. Others can buy them from Park Seeds, who I’d like to keep in business.
Pat also mentions discussions about composting and more. It’s so helpful to talk to other gardeners about what works. This summer I finally have some success with my tomatoes, and every meal and pitcher of iced tea includes some fresh herbs from my herb pots on the deck. I’ve also discovered that bronze fennel, in addition to being a beautiful and delicious plant, seems to be quite cold hardy. It overwintered in my little vegetable patch. What is your greatest edible garden success?
Neighbors last year had some sort of magical soil in their yard and we pigged out on cherry tomatoes from six foot tall plants all August. Best tomatoes I ever had! So sad without those tomatoes this year