Oh, hello. Is it really halfway through June already?

So, the wee garden I’d worked so hard to cultivate this spring was reduced to a withering heap of green last week when a relentless and brutal heatwave descended over the Berkshires for three days. It was the talk of the town: at the library, the sweaty, tank-topped citizenry boldly spoke volumes while fanning themselves with paperbacks. Children slid sluggishly down hot plastic sides at the playground. Recklessly, I swam in a river known to be contaminated with PCBs. (Why not, I figured, seeing as I live within a mile of several PCB cleanup sites — what do I have to lose now?) I considered buying an air conditioner while, out on my front porch, my poor, heat-sensitive lettuces either shriveled or went to seed.

Behold! The circle of life! Death, rebirth, all that. Weeding limp and discolored broccoli rabe from its container this afternoon, I thought: What can I plant next? I was further encouraged by the three tiny green tomatoes that have begun to form on my sungold cherry tomato plant, and the three basils — not to mention the rosemary, sage, and mint — are merrily soaking up sun. The only plant that’s really getting out of hand is the marjoram, which as grown beyond my wildest expectations (which were, admittedly, low) and has nearly crowded out the tarragon it shares a pot with. What was I thinking when I bought a marjoram plant? I can’t think of a single way to use it, so its hacked branches are drying in the sunroom.

In the end, I can’t feel too badly about the death of my salad garden, because just last week the CSA started up, and I can tell already that it will be the best thing about living up here. Full report of this week’s picks when I get my distribution later this week.