Dear summer garden,

I imagine that the contents of this letter will not come as a surprise to you, after all I haven’t been spending much time with you weeding, watering, or harvesting your produce. The thing I want you to know is that it’s not you, it’s the heat. I’m a girl from the north, I am used to weather that might reach the 90s, but is cool and pleasant in the evenings. Here it is so hot, did you know that it has already reached 100 plus more than once? I just can’t bring myself to spend time outside with you when I am melting and those darn zucchini and cucumber plants are scratching at my legs. Things were nice in the beginning, in the spring when the sun was pleasant and we were enjoying delicious salads. Oh and those stuffed zucchini blossoms were heavenly, but such a rare treat. The first warm tomatoes with basil and mozzarella were the essence of summer, but I can only make so many pasta sauces before things get a little boring. To be honest, my feelings were very hurt when you stopped producing zucchini, and frankly that last gigantic zucchini was insulting. It is embarrassing to hear all my friends talk about how they have so many zucchinis they’re composting them, and I have to nod and pretend that I too am being lavishly showered with this summer staple.

So I really think now is the best time for us to part ways. I’m going north for a few weeks and this time apart will let our relationship die a natural death. And before you ask, yes, there will be a garden at my parents’. It is a bigger garden with more variety; beans, potatoes, onions, peas and lettuce, but you shouldn’t be ashamed of your size, sometimes less is better…only sometimes less is boring.

I hope we can stay friends, after all your herbs are perennials and I would like to use them in roasts and stews this fall. Who knows, maybe next year I will get spring fever and develop a hankering for planting, but for now it’s good bye and good luck.

Best of luck,

Teresa