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The two have been residing on my deck all summer. Of course I speak to them both each time I go out (as I do to Mike the maple on the other side of the house).
I remember introducing Joe in my column of Aug. 28 when he first got potted. Aye, yes, Joe Pye-Weed. Such abominable roots but who checks background? It was his persistence in hanging around that I so admired. I allowed him to stay. Three cousins (the wild boys) did grow taller flourishing outdoors on the other side. One of those got bent double so, while still standing (at this moment), isn't doing well.
I've enjoyed having Joe here. His "hair" has lost its color and, as the days have passed, more and more of it floats away. I suspect it will all be gone before the first real frost (not promised until November first - they lied) tolls his death knoll.
Earlier in the season I considered bringing Joe inside for the winter. That would solve the frost problem but I should have known better than to try to fool Mother Nature. There is a time to die . . . well, you know the rest. No reason a "new"Joe might not pop up sometime later in the same pot but it will only be that. And I haven't forgotten those terrible roots which could easily break the pot. (The banana and rubber plants have both broken their seams.)
Tom the tomato is something else again. I remember enjoying two huge juicy fruits from him, marveling at the effort and expense involved.
October twenty-fifth. I brought Tom in last night (dripping wet) but it was too late. He has shriveled and turned black. He left me five small green tomatoes which I've since fried as part of a delicious dinner.
Pondering as I ate those tomatoes: Is there a "natural" season for tomatoes? Around here they seem to all ripen at the same time so farmers' markets have them in abundance or there are none.
How would they do in a different climate?
It seemed easy to fire off the question to my daughter in Florida. She grows herbs, it turns out, but claims no interest in tomatoes.
What did I do before the Internet? "Central Florida" popped up first - not near my family. Yahoo states "our planting schedule here in Central Florida is different from most other states. Our growing seasons are in the Fall and spring." [their cap, not mine] Only just below Miracle-gro claims "in Central Florida, tomatoes can generally be planted in early February for early summer tomatoes and again in September for picking tomatoes in fall and winter." Happy I'm not there even if they can't settle on an answer.
Miracle-gro to the rescue again. "In North Florida, plants are started in February, after the last frost, so they can produce the most tomatoes before the summer heat sets in."
My Floridian emailed later to say even I could grow tomatoes any time . . . indoors! I honestly question this. Wouldn't the plants know there was less sun and shorter days? I do have a fluorescent grow-light but why? I'm not lacking projects.
I know people - lots of people - start seed indoors, the better to get them in the garden once the danger of frost has passed. (I did try - quite nobly if I may say so - one year and, the minute I set the pots outside to become acclimated, all the seeds were dug up and eaten.)
Remember when we were told to wait until after Memorial Day to plant? No longer. Part of our warming. But that's different - and seemingly encouraged by Mother Nature.
But to grow a garden inside? Really? What would my African violets say to the competition? And where would I put a garden? I have no good answers
Besides, where could I find seeds in November?
Susan Crossett has lived in Arkwright for more than 20 years. A lifetime of writing led to these columns as well as two novels. Her Reason for Being was published in 2008 with Love in Three Acts following in 2014. Information on all the Musings, her books and the author may be found at Susancrossett.com.