Last evening I returned home from a stormy (for San Diego standards) day to discover my precious fava beans completely toppled over from the heavy winds. My first reaction was “is there a trauma doctor in the house?!” I have been babying these beans, planting them from seeds and watching them flourish far beyond my expectations.
Tiny green fingerling beans are even starting to lengthen and grow from their sweet white flower petals.
I quickly decided not to give up on them. I would resuscitate them! Delving through my drawers to find something to tie them to the wooden braces already in the beds, I found an ace bandage. Stretchy and soft, I cut it into quarters lengthwise then cut 15 inch pieces. In the rain with darkness closing in, I carefully gathered up sections of the tall stalks and attached them to the posts as gently as possible. By the time I finished, they were again standing tall, although many of their delicate stalks had snapped. When the weather clears, I will add more posts and re-tie the favas to give them more breathing room but for now they are out of the ICU.
My Italian garden will survive. The good news is that my chicory, Cimi di Rapa, a kind of Italian broccoli and Rapa Toscana are all healthy, thriving and getting ready for an Italian festa using all these veggies I planted from seeds I purchased in Italy. This is the greatest reward of gardening. Bringing a bit of ciao back home.
That night I celebrated my successful surgery with a sauté of my garden goodness – swiss chard, two varieties of kale, parsley, thyme, shallots and shiitake mushrooms all spooned over some soft and creamy polenta I brought back from Lucca. The perfect meal for a rainy day. It soothed my soul and reminded me how good everything tastes when it is just out of the heart of the garden. Heart to heart. Benissimo!
Ciao and Love for now,
Maria
Your favas know they are loved. Beautiful words and, as always, I thank you.
Fava Bean Patients resting peacefully – good news ! and the begininngs of dinner looked exquisite and yummy! Wish I had been there – I would bring the Chianti!
Next time call me, and I will come help with any necessary rescue efforts!
You must be the best garden Dr. in town. Your perseverance is admirable!!!!
I do believe somewhere along our genetic line, there must be some italian roots. I could very easily prefer italian yummy over our roast pork and dumplings. I see you pick your lemons while I just received an order of meyer lemons in the mail from a california grower…..;-) cuz-jane
A garden to die for! (No pun intended)…I’m hungry just looking at the pics!
A garden to die for! (No pun intended)….I’m hungry just looking at the pics!
But it’s to live for! I think I enjoy my winter garden more than the summer. I just love and now crave greens!
My Meyers are sweet and divine. My crop doubled from last year and my tree is just a year and a half old. There will be some new lemon recipes coming up in a few weeks. Stay tuned!
I don’t know about doctor but I certainly have learned how to assess a situation and take action! Too much of my heart and soul went into their cultivation to let it slip away.
You’re on!
Maybe they will be ready to eat the next time you’re in town!
And I thank you my gardening role model!
Another one
Jillmo
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