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A Thousand Words

  • Writer: Ruth
    Ruth
  • Nov 21
  • 2 min read

Here it is, already mid-November, and I finally sit down to document the summer past.

The last of pumpkins and squash have been processed, pie filling and butternut soup line the shelf, and I'm so ready to move on to my sewing machine and thoughts of Christmas.

I will say that my 2025 garden did not disappoint and, instead of a list of things not worth trying again—which has been the case more often than I want to admit—I have a list that has left me encouraged and eagerly looking forward to next year.


At present, however, my sewing room is calling me, and this plethora of photos will tell their own stories.

Ground Cherries—I so enjoyed these tiny pineapple-y tomatoes!
Ground Cherries—I so enjoyed these tiny pineapple-y tomatoes!

This elderberry is 5 years old and this is the first year to harvest. The shrub itself, loaded with beautiful and fragrant blooms, is amazing; getting to actually use the berries is the proverbial icing on the cake.
This elderberry is 5 years old and this is the first year to harvest. The shrub itself, loaded with beautiful and fragrant blooms, is amazing; getting to actually use the berries is the proverbial icing on the cake.
Seven sweet Sugar Baby watermelon. Will definitely plant these again next year!
Seven sweet Sugar Baby watermelon. Will definitely plant these again next year!


Hubby plowed up a strip of earth in the barnyard—the only part of our yard with all-day sunshine—and I planted a fairly good patch of sweet corn. We enriched the clay soil with compost and a bit of manure, but the distribution was sketchy and only about one-third of the crop prospered. I was also not thrilled with the type of corn I chose to plant. However, we harvested enough to encourage the endeavor, to which end we have already hauled in more manure and prepared the plot for 2026.
Hubby plowed up a strip of earth in the barnyard—the only part of our yard with all-day sunshine—and I planted a fairly good patch of sweet corn. We enriched the clay soil with compost and a bit of manure, but the distribution was sketchy and only about one-third of the crop prospered. I was also not thrilled with the type of corn I chose to plant. However, we harvested enough to encourage the endeavor, to which end we have already hauled in more manure and prepared the plot for 2026.


Definitely a good year for zucchini. And my first time growing and harvesting pie pumpkins and butternut squash, also grown in the sunny new barnyard plot.
Definitely a good year for zucchini. And my first time growing and harvesting pie pumpkins and butternut squash, also grown in the sunny new barnyard plot.
The grandkids always enjoy carving any surplus pumpkins.
The grandkids always enjoy carving any surplus pumpkins.


This apple tree (a Norland variety, I believe) was half dead and beyond ugly. That was two summers ago, when we gave it an absolutely brutal pruning, removing well over half the branches—it was do or die. Last year it greened back up and grew significantly, making a valiant fight for survival; and this year it thanked us with 59 extra large and near-perfect apples.
This apple tree (a Norland variety, I believe) was half dead and beyond ugly. That was two summers ago, when we gave it an absolutely brutal pruning, removing well over half the branches—it was do or die. Last year it greened back up and grew significantly, making a valiant fight for survival; and this year it thanked us with 59 extra large and near-perfect apples.


While the truth of it is that the bonus three-weeks

of heat, stretching well into September, had much to do with bringing the corn, watermelon, elderberry, and butternut squash to fruition, I am, nonetheless, hugely encouraged.


And now, back to my sewing machine and the holiday tunes :)



A person who doesn't make mistakes is unlikely to make anything.

 
 
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