First corn! Pictured this way it reminds me of The Good Witch's wand from The Wizard of Oz. That sure explains the magic going on around here, in the veggie patch! (Forgive me for the over-saturated photo. All that Instagraming is driving out the purist in me! More photos from our corner of France right here at Instagram.)
Today's word is in English – for our French readers' enjoyment:
Late Bloomer
: a late-blooming plant (une plante tardive)
: someone who took his or her time to learn something or to bloom
(quelqu'un qui a pris son temps pour découvrir sa passion)
Audio File: Listen to the sentence in French, below: Download MP3 or Wave file
(Today's example sentence is in honor of one of our readers, Herm, who also has a blog Herm's Rhyme Thyme)
He is what we call in English "a late bloomer." He began to publish his poetry after the age of 85.
Il est ce qu'on appelle en anglais "une plante tardive." Il a commencé à publier sa poesie après l'âge de quatre-vignt-cinq ans.
A Day in a French Life… by Kristin Espinasse
Sometime in May, I began to notice how everyone else's tomato plants were growing and mine were not. I started pacing up and down the pathways in our garden in search of spontaneous seedlings. (New to permaculture I hoped for natural, automatic crops–raised from the ashes of last year's abundance!)
In June my husband brought home store-bought tomato plants, au cas où. Around that time, I began noticing how everyone south of Paris was racking in loads of strawberries. But my own fraisiers were no more than masses of green leaves, no berries in sight.
By the time the neighborhood fruit stand ran out of strawberries, my plants began to show blossoms. Then came the tiny fruit. There was never enough to fill a whole basket, but it was easy to enjoy a few strawberries each morning while out pulling weeds in the would-be veggie patch.
Finally, the tomato seedlings shot up! There were no tomatoes yet but that didn't matter–by then my neighbor, Annie, was delivering sackfuls from her potager!
"Compte sur moi le mois prochain," I promised Annie, pointing to those aromatic seedlings (the tomato scent was unmistakable!) which would ripen just like the strawberries–plus tard. I would then reciprocate, sharing a bounty of my own!
Now, each morning passes and I'm out in the garden, popping giant strawberries (green tops included!) into my mouth as I go about my chores. I don't have baskets and baskets to show for it, but if you added up the incremental "harvest" or the number of times I've opened my mouth and thrown back a strawberry you could equate that to an entire farmers market stand marked "FRAISES A VENDRE!" (And if you added the times my golden assistant, Smokey, sneaked a berry, you might count a truckload!)
Caught in the act!
Oftentimes while digging in the garden I wonder why I didn't learn to jardiner years ago. Meantime, I'm enjoying watching my tomatoes fatten up (they still have not turned red) and can you believe those kernels of corn grew up? (Oh, I have not told you about them!) As for the maïs, I have no way of knowing whether I'm behind again this time–as no one grows corn in Provence. Either way, I've learned a thing or two about my garden and myself, namely that we're both late-bloomers.
Roma tomatoes. The yellow flower in the background is wild St John's Wort, a good insectary and a good herbal treatment for Jean-Marc's biodynamic permaculture* vineyard. (*he'll be adding fava beans between vine rows soon!)
FRENCH VOCABULARY
au cas où = just in case
un fraisier= strawberry plant
le potager = kitchen garden, veggie patch
Compte sur moi = count on me
le mois prochain = next month
plus tard = later on
jardiner = to garden
le maïs = corn, maize
A precious few, or enough to share.
Now find a toothpick and recycle some stationary….
And don't worry about your French too much, just let someone know you're thinking of them:
Annie,
It's just a little "kiss" to tell you I'm thinking of you. It's hot and I don't go out much. But (thank goodness) it's summertime.
Kristi
Pictured in the canning jar: tarragon to fill in all the empty space, mint blossoms to add charm, fennel flowers for a burst of yellow! and a precious handful of fraises for neighbor Annie's dessert.
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Here in Brittany, my roma tomatoes are not ripening, but the cherry tomatoes have been fine. In my ignorance I am concluding that they take longer and will ripen eventually. It is colder here but we have them in a small sheltered courtyard. The fields around have maize but it hasn’t been harvested yet. So your vegetables may just be late or think they are Bretons!
Here in Brittany, my roma tomatoes are not ripening, but the cherry tomatoes have been fine. In my ignorance I am concluding that they take longer and will ripen eventually. It is colder here but we have them in a small sheltered courtyard. The fields around have maize but it hasn’t been harvested yet. So your vegetables may just be late or think they are Bretons!
Hi Kristin,
Our large tomatoes haven’t done too well but the cherry tomatoes have gone crazy! I pop those in my mouth too. We have some St. Johm’s Wort too. We have had a problem with racoons or maybe opossums getting into our corn! I hope we can find a few to eat!
The first thing I noticed about your first photo is that it reminded me of a fairy garden in the background. It looks like a little mini chair and mini flower garden. Charming!
Hi Kristin,
Our large tomatoes haven’t done too well but the cherry tomatoes have gone crazy! I pop those in my mouth too. We have some St. Johm’s Wort too. We have had a problem with racoons or maybe opossums getting into our corn! I hope we can find a few to eat!
The first thing I noticed about your first photo is that it reminded me of a fairy garden in the background. It looks like a little mini chair and mini flower garden. Charming!
Such a precious little gift of berries and herbs in a jar, and with a lovely note attached. I love it and it reminds me to keep a nice little jar on hand for just such a gift, so thoughtful. Merci Kristin!
Such a precious little gift of berries and herbs in a jar, and with a lovely note attached. I love it and it reminds me to keep a nice little jar on hand for just such a gift, so thoughtful. Merci Kristin!
What a thoughtful and generous friend you are. I wish I was your neighbor, not the least of which would mean I was living in the south of France, lol!
What a thoughtful and generous friend you are. I wish I was your neighbor, not the least of which would mean I was living in the south of France, lol!
Kristin—TRUST ME. You must MULCH with paille made from hemp that comes in bags and costs very little and weighs nothing and then you will have NO weeds anywhere and your garden will feed from the decomposing hemp paille. NOT HAY. Straw from hemp.
Those tomatoes look primo–don’t worry. They’ll ripen. Next year I’ll send you seeds for a new Roma tomato from Burpee that will blow your mind. HUGE racoltes every day. Beautiful garden….
Kristin—TRUST ME. You must MULCH with paille made from hemp that comes in bags and costs very little and weighs nothing and then you will have NO weeds anywhere and your garden will feed from the decomposing hemp paille. NOT HAY. Straw from hemp.
Those tomatoes look primo–don’t worry. They’ll ripen. Next year I’ll send you seeds for a new Roma tomato from Burpee that will blow your mind. HUGE racoltes every day. Beautiful garden….
I see some rosemary there, too, in your bouquet. Are those mint flowers from basil? Wonderful stuff!
I see some rosemary there, too, in your bouquet. Are those mint flowers from basil? Wonderful stuff!
We have some wild wine berries, but there are never enough of them to really gorge ourselves so we put the on so rice cream and savor them. I can’t have un portager because of deer and rabbits, so I grow my herbes (parsley, basil, thyme, rosemary and chives) on the deck. I did not buy a very good tomato plant this year, a few very small tomatoes.
Enjoy your corn. We have had some exceptional corn from our CSA program,plus loads of other veggies.
Kathleen
We have some wild wine berries, but there are never enough of them to really gorge ourselves so we put the on so rice cream and savor them. I can’t have un portager because of deer and rabbits, so I grow my herbes (parsley, basil, thyme, rosemary and chives) on the deck. I did not buy a very good tomato plant this year, a few very small tomatoes.
Enjoy your corn. We have had some exceptional corn from our CSA program,plus loads of other veggies.
Kathleen
Salut Kristin,
Merci, c’est un grand honneur d’être mentionné dans FWAD
I am MUCH younger than you say . . . . J’ai seulement quatre-vingt-quatre ans !
It is good to keep busy and learning new things . . . . and fun. I recently heard the phrase, ” you can never step in the same river twice ” Life keeps changing and you need to “go with the flow ”
à bientôt
Salut Kristin,
Merci, c’est un grand honneur d’être mentionné dans FWAD
I am MUCH younger than you say . . . . J’ai seulement quatre-vingt-quatre ans !
It is good to keep busy and learning new things . . . . and fun. I recently heard the phrase, ” you can never step in the same river twice ” Life keeps changing and you need to “go with the flow ”
à bientôt
Speaking of late tomatoes (une plante tardive), my father was in a good-natured plant growing competition with a neighbor. My father’s tomato plants were growing quite tall but not bearing any fruit. So, My father went to the market and bought a few ripe tomatoes and affixed them to his vines with clear tape. For five minutes our neighbor was really impressed and perhaps a little jealous…At least until he inspected things more closely! Barry from Alabama
Speaking of late tomatoes (une plante tardive), my father was in a good-natured plant growing competition with a neighbor. My father’s tomato plants were growing quite tall but not bearing any fruit. So, My father went to the market and bought a few ripe tomatoes and affixed them to his vines with clear tape. For five minutes our neighbor was really impressed and perhaps a little jealous…At least until he inspected things more closely! Barry from Alabama
Herm, I thought you were 70 and meant that you would publish your first book of poems at 85. Now get crackin . Im not sure when your birthday is, but you have less than a year to turn in your first draft 😉
Phew!
🙂 🙂
Suzanne, loved the hemp tip. But it is much more economical to use garden clipping for mulch. Still, I have located a bag of hemp online and am tempted to buy it…
Thanks for those who write in and respond to these posts. I really appreciate each and every comment and correction.
Herm, I thought you were 70 and meant that you would publish your first book of poems at 85. Now get crackin . Im not sure when your birthday is, but you have less than a year to turn in your first draft 😉
Phew!
🙂 🙂
Suzanne, loved the hemp tip. But it is much more economical to use garden clipping for mulch. Still, I have located a bag of hemp online and am tempted to buy it…
Thanks for those who write in and respond to these posts. I really appreciate each and every comment and correction.
Barry, LOL! Great story.
Barry, LOL! Great story.
Love the garden and Smokey “helping” ha ha
Love the garden and Smokey “helping” ha ha
What a lovely post! Off to the nursery for more plants and good dirt. Thanks for the inspiration.
What a lovely post! Off to the nursery for more plants and good dirt. Thanks for the inspiration.
I love the photos of the garden and of course of Smokey.
I live on the coast of Oregon and started a strawberry pot. All of the plants ripened and it was so gorgeous. Then one morning it was all gone. The local raccoon family had had a midnight feast. Oh well, at least they enjoyed their meal and they left the terra cotta pot in one piece!
Be well!
I love the photos of the garden and of course of Smokey.
I live on the coast of Oregon and started a strawberry pot. All of the plants ripened and it was so gorgeous. Then one morning it was all gone. The local raccoon family had had a midnight feast. Oh well, at least they enjoyed their meal and they left the terra cotta pot in one piece!
Be well!
Dear Kristin,
Sunflowers, hollyhocks and corn! That could be Northeast Kansas, which has its own charm but not quite the romance of southwest France. A local farm just down the road shares it’s abundance with the community… my first stop for fresh produce. We have cornfields galore, rendering such sweet and succulent corn that a quick dip in steaming water or a short stop on an open grill keeps everyone happy. (And the floss handy~) Best of all are the ripe tomatoes just off the vine…they are wonderful for the tomato tarte recipe you once offered from your friend Rachel. And fresh berries or peaches with creme fraiche atop Jacque’s French Yogurt Cake..yum!
As one who cannot grow my own vegetable garden other than herbs in pots on the patio, thanks to the wildlife in our woods, it is inspiring to witness your gardening experience and then to blend it into our lives through your recipes. Hmm, I think I will bake a french yogurt cake today and make a tomato tarte tonight. With a bottle on Rouge Bleu Dentelle, what could be better? Except maybe doing
it in France!
Dear Kristin,
Sunflowers, hollyhocks and corn! That could be Northeast Kansas, which has its own charm but not quite the romance of southwest France. A local farm just down the road shares it’s abundance with the community… my first stop for fresh produce. We have cornfields galore, rendering such sweet and succulent corn that a quick dip in steaming water or a short stop on an open grill keeps everyone happy. (And the floss handy~) Best of all are the ripe tomatoes just off the vine…they are wonderful for the tomato tarte recipe you once offered from your friend Rachel. And fresh berries or peaches with creme fraiche atop Jacque’s French Yogurt Cake..yum!
As one who cannot grow my own vegetable garden other than herbs in pots on the patio, thanks to the wildlife in our woods, it is inspiring to witness your gardening experience and then to blend it into our lives through your recipes. Hmm, I think I will bake a french yogurt cake today and make a tomato tarte tonight. With a bottle on Rouge Bleu Dentelle, what could be better? Except maybe doing
it in France!
Hi Kristin,
I’m wondering how YOU pronounce “au cas oû”. I have a friend from Lyon who always says OH|CAH|ZOO. Another friend from St Etienne insists that it is OH|CAH|OO.
Hi Kristin,
I’m wondering how YOU pronounce “au cas oû”. I have a friend from Lyon who always says OH|CAH|ZOO. Another friend from St Etienne insists that it is OH|CAH|OO.
Our dear Kristi,
Another beautiful post(and pictures!)where you have (again!)set a wonderful example of caring ,thoughtfulness,and sharing.Through your words,we feel like we are friends with Annie,as well as all of your ‘regulars’on FWAD—-previous strangers scattered around the world,who thanks to you,are now extended family member reaching out to you and your beautiful family,as well as each other.
What a privilege and a gift you have given us.
Thank you!!!
Love
Natalia xo
Our dear Kristi,
Another beautiful post(and pictures!)where you have (again!)set a wonderful example of caring ,thoughtfulness,and sharing.Through your words,we feel like we are friends with Annie,as well as all of your ‘regulars’on FWAD—-previous strangers scattered around the world,who thanks to you,are now extended family member reaching out to you and your beautiful family,as well as each other.
What a privilege and a gift you have given us.
Thank you!!!
Love
Natalia xo
Such an incredibly charming cadeau for Annie and I just love your comparison of yourself to your garden. Charming, as always. 🙂
Such an incredibly charming cadeau for Annie and I just love your comparison of yourself to your garden. Charming, as always. 🙂
:Your harvest is better than mine. So far 2 strawberries and one tomato. Lettuce has been good…..the fog helps that.
I can remember in particular one of my dogs would wait and I swear watch the strawberries and the day before I would be ready to pick them she would eat a few or more!
:Your harvest is better than mine. So far 2 strawberries and one tomato. Lettuce has been good…..the fog helps that.
I can remember in particular one of my dogs would wait and I swear watch the strawberries and the day before I would be ready to pick them she would eat a few or more!
Love today’s blog…I second Natalie’s comments! Also, Jackie’s hair appears blonde today & very becoming.
Love today’s blog…I second Natalie’s comments! Also, Jackie’s hair appears blonde today & very becoming.
What a sweet post. Here in South Florida, mango season is ending and avocado season is starting, so people are sharing the bounty of their trees with us mendicant condo dwellers who can’t garden. We are ever hopeful. 😉
What a sweet post. Here in South Florida, mango season is ending and avocado season is starting, so people are sharing the bounty of their trees with us mendicant condo dwellers who can’t garden. We are ever hopeful. 😉
Chris, thanks for the very big smile you put on my face. And thanks so much for remembering. Hello to George.
Chris, thanks for the very big smile you put on my face. And thanks so much for remembering. Hello to George.
What is so lovely is your artistic touch for the petit cadeau you made up for your voisine. You are a multi-talented gal, between the writing, photography and arranging even the smallest bunch of herbs. How funny that Smokey likes strawberries. He’s a gourmet.
What is so lovely is your artistic touch for the petit cadeau you made up for your voisine. You are a multi-talented gal, between the writing, photography and arranging even the smallest bunch of herbs. How funny that Smokey likes strawberries. He’s a gourmet.
My Golden Retriever also loves to eat berries, one at a time. Blueberries seem to be his favorite, right after raspberries and strawberries. And, of course, wstermelon! Thank you for the garden stories!
My Golden Retriever also loves to eat berries, one at a time. Blueberries seem to be his favorite, right after raspberries and strawberries. And, of course, wstermelon! Thank you for the garden stories!
As always Kristin your blog has made me smile and escape my work day ahead. Really love hearing about your dogs, garden and life and the joy it brings you. I can totally relate. Thank you. Best regards, Lesley.
As always Kristin your blog has made me smile and escape my work day ahead. Really love hearing about your dogs, garden and life and the joy it brings you. I can totally relate. Thank you. Best regards, Lesley.