Kitchen Gardeners International: May 2006 Newsletter

To read the full newsletter, please go here: http://www.kitchengardeners.org/newslettermay06.html

 

 

Dear Kitchen Gardener,

 

Ahh, rhubarb.  She and I are once again back on good terms  It was only a few weeks ago that I had all but given up on the plant, chalking the relationship up as yet another case of unrequited garden love.  I loved her, but she didn't love back, or so I thought.

 

This story started over a year  ago when my gardening friend Frank gave me a couple small but healthy looking plants which I deftly managed to kill within two weeks of receiving them.  I shuddered at the thought of the story hitting the press and what it might do to my reputation.

 

ORGANIC GARDENING EXPERT ACCUSED OF KILLING RHUBARB PLANTS

(Associated Press) -   Two rhubarb plants were found dead in the yard of Roger Doiron, a local gardening expert and garden writer.  Police are now trying to piece together the events leading up to the deaths.  "It's very strange to say the least and unprecedented in my experience," said cooperative extension agent Jim Miller commenting on the case.  "Rhubarb, you see, is pretty much a weed.  It requires almost no attention and is not generally susceptible to pests and disease.  Small children are capable of growing rhubarb.  You really have to wonder what he (Doiron) did to those poor plants."

 

As with Mark Twain, rumors of my rhubarb's death were fortunately greatly exaggerated.  The parts that I could see  - leaves and stalks - clearly did die last year.  What I couldn't see or kill were the sleepy crowns which woke up about three weeks ago, tan, rested, and ready to make rhubarb again.  Now, I suspect I couldn't stop them if I tried. 

 

So what are the lessons of this little story?  It may sound trite, but in gardening love as in love love, patience is a virtue and old flames - once thought long extinguished - can flicker anew. 

 

Hoping there's a bit of love and rhubarb in your life this spring,

Posted by KGI on May 21, 2006 8:32 AM to Kitchen Gardeners International
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