With warm sunny days, sufficient rainfall, and tender loving care, “our” garden grew from this at the end of April…
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to this in August!
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After giving a thumbs up to the garden’s success, Len decided to take in some sun and enjoy a Toscano, a small Italian cigar (that actually doesn’t smell bad),
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while Fernanda and I were ready to pick, baskets in hand.
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We filled our baskets with three of the four varieties we had planted…
Ciliegino (Cherry)
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San Marzano
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Camone
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and the not quite ready, Cuore di Bue (Beef Steak)
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We also picked susine (plums) from the brimming trees that not only keep the orto from scorching in the summer sun,
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but also provide fruit for delicious marmellata.
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Then it was time for our “casual” county lunch ~
Our Al Fresco Menu included:
freshly cut prosciutto and sliced melon;
hand-picked tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and garden basil;
just cooked porchetta from the market;
cannelloni beans sautéed in fresh tomatoes;
Toscana Rosso di Montalcino
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Talk about farm to table – and so much more rewarding since we are the planters, pickers and very fortunate eaters!
After lunch, it was time for some serious relaxation.
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Little did we know two years ago how incredibly rewarding this small garden would be. How does our garden grow? Well, we may not be experts, and the local farmers still offer much advice, but for us, everything about the orto is perfectly wonderful, perfectly delicious, and so proudly our own doing. We just can’t help but smile!
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Ciao,
Judy
