Victory Beans!

Things won are done, joy’s soul lies in the doing.

~William Shakespeare

This is a gardening season has a rallying cry “Rise to the challenge!” The weather has been changeable, unpredictable and just plain odd. The critters are working in tandem a they tour the garden at will and the weeds…well, we all know about weeds. This season is a battle of wits and wills against the one I try hardest to cooperate with… nature.

Incredibly, the Dragon Tongue beans have produced and are ready to pick. An heirloom variety well known for its flavor and beautiful, colorful pods I’ve looked forward to growing them and eating them since late last winter. An early spring planting yielded healthy seedlings in about a week’s time that, like the rest of the garden, have suffered repeated attacks since. Frost, snow, driving rain and wind. They boldly pressed onward and upward… and blossoms eventually appeared. So did the bunnies and beetles. Nibbled halfway to the ground they sulked and sagged, yet after a brief delay they recovered and new leaves eventually appeared like a green robe to cover the naked stems. Beetles began to nibble, but the daily rain kept me from picking them off, weeds grew around the plants but it was too wet to cultivate. They battle belonged to the bean plants and I’ve learned just how resilient they are.

The warm breeze of the last few days was enough to dry the garden out and hubby and I were able to tour the garden for the first time in over a week. Just inside the gate, like stalwart soldiers bruised from battle were these:

Withered tops of nibbled stems peeking out, beetle holes in the leaves apparent and wet weather taking its toll aside… these beans are gorgeous! Not only beautiful but abundant, the plants are loaded and the beans are tender and delicious. No,the plants aren’t pretty to look at as they have been in years past, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder… behold my victorious heirloom beans! Happy gardening!

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