Mary, Mary Quite Contrary

How does your garden grow?

With silver bells and cockle shells

And pretty maids all in a row.

As with many nursery rhymes, the interpretations have gotten lost in translation over time. I do not know if I ever internalized the fact that Miss Mary had bivalves growing in her garden. I usually focused on the fact that Mary's ornery temperament did not stop her from having a garden. That was meaning enough for me.

Sadly, I am not a gardener and would most likely have better luck raising cockle shells than botanical beauties. However, I am blessed to be married to an excellent gardener so problem solved. Here is a quick tour of some of our garden this summer.

This little pot pumps out just the right amount of greens needed for two people. A couple of varieties of subtly sweet lettuce and a bit of peppery arugula make for a delicious salad. My lazy nature also loves having it all just steps from my patio door. Peter Rabbit would approve.

Red-Veined Sorrel is a newcomer to our garden mix. The young tender leaves add a citrusy zing to salads. Not to mention, the plant's colors are vibrant and interesting. No need to eat all of it. The plant earns its place as a looker.

Gardens are about hope and the leafy tops of carrots lure us into dreams of future crisp carrots hidden below the surface. They will be the last crop I work with as I prefer to pull them after the first light frost. There are plenty of other veggies to eat until fall and they will provide joy in the winter months when the garden becomes a wistful memory.

Grean beans are the love/hate denizens of the garden. I am no fan of picking them, especially in the heat. Hanging my head downward also comes with challenges that threaten to send me to an assisted living referral. But, I adore fresh green beans so the harvesting challenges are worth the process. I cook them in a simple manner. Just boil, add salt and butter and eat. I am always sad when the last bean is picked.

We call this our circus plant. It is actually a cucumber plant that gets terrorized by some critter (we believe it is a bird). The first teeny cucumberlings of the season get nipped so we have start the seasons with no cucumbers. This has been a problem for a couple of years. With the addition of shiny pinwheels and ribbons flapping in the breeze, we manage to keep the predator at bay. As the season hums along, the bad behavior diminishes so a few baubles can be removed. Truth be told, I do not mind the pinwheels but my husband sees them as battle souvenirs.

No plant says plenitude like a zucchini plant. I happen to love squash and not just for quick breads. I enjoy zucchini grilled or simply boiled with salt, pepper and plenty of butter. Their non-aggressive flavor also makes them easy to add to dishes for a little more veg power.

Tomatoes are the darlings of a garden. They tease us along until late July and August, promising juicy goodness. We are enjoying a few of the early small varieties now and are looking forward to the time when sliced tomatoes will be the standard meal addition. BLTs, here we come.

Peppers come in three varieties for us. Banana Peppers are enjoyed for Mexican dishes or fresh on salads. Yum Yum Peppers made a good addition to many dishes. Salsa Peppers have a little kick like a mild jalapeno. All of them ferment well and freeze well, making them easy to manage when production is in full swing.

A beloved section is the herb corner. Chives, parsley, sage, thyme, rosemary, oregano, tarragon and basil are my "pretty maids all in a row." Mint is sequestered in a pot due to its aggressive behavior, but it is no less loved. Very few summer meals escape an herb component.

Whether you are raising cockles, silver bells or nothing at all, I hope you have a chance to procure some fresh veggies for your dining pleasure. All too soon, you-know-what comes along and puts the kibosh on our growing season. Enjoy the moments of summertide.