Tomfoolery and Tomatoes in the Garden

At lunchtime, I went to our Community Garden plot to check out the garden.  After Sunday afternoon's welcome rain, and this morning's little shower, I was anxious to see the garden.  Rain has been scarce this growing season. 

I made my way to our plot, decked out in my regular work clothes and shoes, not realizing just how muddy it was.  At the edge of the garden, I stopped abruptly.

There, curled up beneath the zucchini plant, was a snake, measuring about two feet long.  I beat a rather hasty retreat back to the edge of the garden, to gather my wits, catch my breath, getting muddier by the minute.

I did not scream, nor yell for help.  I sent a text to Mayor and Sis, something to the effect, "There is a snake in the garden.  He is silver and grey, with a flat head, and a red forked tongue."

After regaining my composure, I returned, through the mud, to take a photo of the monster, with my iphone.  I gingerly held out the phone, careful not to encroach on its territory, fearing it would jump at me with that forked red tongue.  I began to wonder, though my heart was still beating at some incredible rate, why the snake's red forked tongue was stuck in the open position.  A little test was in order

Sis had raked all the debris out of the garden, so there were no would be weapons there.  I borrowed a few sticks from the neighbor's garden, which thankfully still contained some debris, to chuck at the unwelcome intruder.  The first throw landed short, but should have alarmed the beast.  No movement.  A second stick landed closer, still no movement.  I began to think the poor thing had crawled into the garden and died with its forked tongue in the open position.  A third stick, further cluttering up Sis' raked garden, brought no movement.



It was at this point, dressed in my work clothes, sinking absymally into into the mud, heart still racing, that I began to suspect someone was having fun with me.  Here is the beast which remains glued to his space this evening.  He looks a little bit fake when viewed from this angle.

Sis answered my text this afternoon, telling me Mayor had seen the snake and thought it was real.  So, why in the world didn't mayor take it out of the garden?  Mayor has remained silent all day, not responding to my text.  I can only assume he was rolling out of his chair laughing, as he read the text about the fricking snake in the garden.

On another note, I suspect we will have ripe tomatoes sometime in October.  Check out this glorious little tomato, still wearing its peach fuzz.. It measures all of a half inch in diameter.

The promise of things to come.  Good enough for me!

The gardens are coming along. Rows of green line each plot. Trellises and stakes stand ready to catch the vine as they grow upward. Diligent gardeners plant, weed, water and tend to their plots.  And, in the little plot we call home, I suspect our little snake will remain glued to his space all summer.  And, I suspect, I will never hear the end of it all.

So, what do you think we should name our little creature?