I came home Monday afternoon to find my big stand of rhubarb shredded to within an inch of its tart life. I can say with some certainty that the powerful storm that rolled northeast that day delivered the same punishing blast of golf-ball- or maybe basketball-sized hail to other gardens in its wake, dinging baby squash blossoms and poking big holes in lotus leaves that had been just minding their own business in backyard ponds.
The storm was a setback, but not so out of character for this season that teased the some of us into planting too soon and retaliated against the undisciplined by crushing new shoots under a blanket of snow. Survivors were sizzled away by frightfully high temperatures and their replacements washed out before new roots could take hold.
And so as we wind up the last issue of Grow for the season, I am starting over again. Fresh lettuce and spinach seeds will be planted. A new squash or two will go in. I pay attention to the signs my garden gives and remain forever hopeful there will be a yield, however small.
As I investigated the poststorm carnage this week, I peered into the rhubarb patch and saw pale green fists rising from its heart, reminders that like the Grow section, the undaunted garden will be back again next year.
