"The sun that shines through the mauve, check - patterned petals of the autumn crocuses on the front lawn ripens our tomatoes. This is the pride of our year. To have grown a row of tomato plants in the open, one with forty -eight fruit tumbling heavily down on it, and the rest with nearly as many! They are beautiful in their dripping clusters, with their musty acrid smell. It will be a race now between the September sun ripening them and the autumn frosts smiting them. Already I take off those fruits that have turned a dull yellow, that they may redden in the sheltered sun in our windows. It's so difficult to find the dividing line in one's garden between utility and beauty. If things are eatable they are supposed to be only useful, if they are flowers they must be needs be merely decorative. But our tomatoes are lovelier than most flowers and and if we only have to tell the truth we must say that we only grow vegetable marrows and scarlet runners for the beauty of their blooms. To eat they are dull, but to look at they are disturbingly lovely. On the other hand beautiful though sunflowers are, I doubt if we should always aim at having them in our garden if it were not to provide, with their ripened seeds, an autumn delicacy for the tits".
~ an extract from 'Four Hedges' by Clare Leighton.
Scarlet runners, dull? Surely not. Love the illustration.
ReplyDeleteI must admit that my taste buds agree with her Jo and prefer French beans. When it comes to colour though the runners win the race.
DeleteMade me smile Anna, and nice illustration too!
ReplyDeleteOh so glad to have bought a smile to your face :)
DeleteI was checking out my neighbours tomatoes only yesterday - a conversation pretty much along those line followed.
ReplyDeleteSimilar conversations have been going on at the allotment Angie but sadly most peoples's tomato crops are not dripping this year.
DeleteThis is an extract that perfectly sums up my garden at the moment, Anna! The race is indeed on between September sun (I live in hope) and looming frosts to see which gets to my tomatoes first. It's a bittersweet month because the garden is incredibly lush and full of flowers and edibles but it's also starting to fade towards autumn. Still, we wouldn't appreciate the highs if we didn't have the lows and it's been a good year on the whole. Caro xx
ReplyDeleteI think that you may have had a better year growing wise than we have up here Caro. Still I was a happy bunny, when I returned home on Saturday (which was gloriously sunny) staggering with a heavy bag of my produce from the plot.
DeleteSally Winter
ReplyDeletehttps://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/117437145/allotment-the-perfect-plot-etching-and?ref=shop_home_feat_1
Thanks Diana. I posted this in a hurry and forgot to acknowledge the artist. I will do so :)
DeleteWhat a lovely piece of writing. I hadn't heard of Claire Leighton before. Perfect for the season too.
ReplyDeleteGlad that you enjoyed the extract Cathy. Not only was Claire Leighton a writer but she was a very talented artist too.
DeleteThe illustration and writing are just right for now. My outdoor allotment tomatoes are refusing to redden on the vine. I bring them home and they ripen in a sunny spot but they don't taste of much. I'm going to make spicy gazpacho today in an attempt to liven them up.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds the perfect solution for those recalcitrant tomatoes Sarah.
DeleteLovely quote and illustration, no tomatoes here either, no anything apart from potatoes sadly, not that the potatoes are not wanted, frustrating that our veges and effort have amounted to nothing due to a disastrous summer.
ReplyDeleteOh Rona, you have my sympathies. Let's hope for a better deal from the weather gods next year.
DeleteI wish I could write so eloquently about tomatoes.
ReplyDeleteMe too Elaine :)
DeleteI always enjoy your musings Anna and am fascinated by the literary sources and pictures you use - always most aptly chosen. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI think I spend too much time musing over musings Cathy but I'm so pleased that you enjoy them.
DeleteThe words are very appropriate for this time of year Anna. The out door tomatoes are so full of flavour and sweetness, far superior to greenhouse ones.
ReplyDeleteI've only grown outdoors this year Brian but certainly agree with your observations.
DeleteLovely. I was noticing how many plants in my back border were showing the beginnings of Autumn colour. I am grateful that the toms are snuggled up in the greenhouse, and will hopefully keep going for a few weeks yet before being ousted for lettuce and oriental greens... I do take issue with the runner though, I grow 'White Lady', and she is both beautiful in flower and tasty on the plate...
ReplyDeleteI wish that I had some tomato plants snuggling indoors this summer but they have all had to take their luck outdoors. I much prefer French beans to runners Janet although it's been some years since I've grown the former. Have never tried a white flowering variety. Maybe one for next year? I will report back on the taste test if I do :)
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