It's been a very hot, very dry summer.

So hot, as one newspaper article said, that the trees are whistling for dogs.

Our garden has struggled and is not what any of us envisioned at this point.

BUT!

Look where it was last March...

 And think of all the tire painting, hauling soil and compost, planting, weeding, watering - all with having fun together!

The idea for a section with "animal" plants - way to go! The research and hunt for plants, and all the work to keep them going through the heat and drought. And the plans to finish that area next year.

Remember the work to get the rest of the new area planted? It had it's struggles, too, but there are plants there now! And hope for next year!

Now that school has started we are coming to the end of getting together. We'll meet tonight and then, who knows? The garden will keep producing until frost, so even if we don't get together as a group, you can check on it and enjoy the good food that grows there.

The garden and our young gardeners have reminded me, that in relationships, even when things are tough there can be laughter.

Their energy and enthusiasm continued even when things didn't go exactly as planned. That's what kept the garden going.That can be what keeps a relationship going when things don't go exactly as planned.

Thanks to our young gardeners, to their parents, to Sybil and Kim from DOVES, and to the folks in our community who supported our Hands for Growing project!