Great Scot(t) in the Garden

How do we get involved with gardening?  Necessity?  Not so much.  It typically starts our as a hobby that sometimes gets out of control.  Some of us have family that were successes in the garden and passed the green thumb along.  My father had a green thumb and so did my grandfather (on my mother’s side).  Those skills were necessities.  My grandpa was raised on a farm in the Scottish countryside but ended up in Edinburgh and a garden on Moat Drive.I wonder if he would enjoy gardening in Bakersfield, California where the hell like conditions are a far cry from those he conquered in the frigid north.  Would the arid environment just be another challenge like that he faced during World War I in Turkey?

Even if he did adjust, there’s something that I simply can’t imagine him doing.  Dressing like a schlump as most of us do now.  Just can’t imagine it.

Scotland, Cabbage, & Protestants

I’m 1/2 Scottish.  My mother (infant pictured above with my Grandpa, Aunt Helen, and Granny) immigrated in 1956.  My Grandpa, let’s call him Jimmy because that was his name, grew up on a farm with 12 siblings and continued working in gardens and with livestock all of his life.  When he harvested a cabbage, he would mark a cross (+) on the remaining stump.  I didn’t really know why; but my mother encouraged me to continue this practice.  Recently, I purchased an old knife at a local gun shop to use in the garden.  I used it to cross the remaining stumps.  I found out that spring and early summer varieties may be induced to produce secondary heads by cutting a cross in the top of the stem. It didn’t work in my garden.  Maybe next time.To be clear.  St. Patrick’s Day is not celebrated in my home nor my mother’s home.  She insists on wearing orange on that day in Protestant fashion.  Her saint of choice is St. Andrew. MacDuh!Last weekend, I harvested the last of the cabbage to share with associates at work that do celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.  Please click on the St. Patrick’s Day link with your speakers on.

 

 

Note:  The soil looks completely spent.  The bed is due to be amended before summer plantings are established here.