Gardening, The Spaghetti squash----- Great for You.

Gardening season is here and gardeners are having a great time. Watching crops grow is fun, despite the lack of rainfall in some areas.
Early morning weeding and thinning gives a boost which lasts all day and then evening watering to soothe the crops after the day long scorching heat. The crops continue to flourish and against the odds and the gardener flourishes as well.

Yesterday, after driving around searching for a gas station to take refuge under, to escape the rain of hail pounding on the car like a panel beater, I got home to find out that the rainstorm did not go north enough to soak my garden. The heavy rainfall with hail drenched parts of central Florida and left the rest still bone dry, with brittle grass and dust.

The sight at the Hess filling station where I sought refuge was hilarious. Other motorists were doing the same thing I was trying to do, and the space under the covered portion filled up up quickly and the left over cars scrambled for spots under oak trees around the station. The pounding on my car continued even after getting refuge under the tree.
Resigning to whatever happens was the only alternative left for those who scrambled in vain. I could see drivers with bewildered looks in their eyes as the hail continued raining on cars.
I had to laugh at myself as I parked under the oak tree with hardly any protection. In short, I gave up and prayed for safety as lightning and thunder added to the excitement of the hailstorm. Excitement bordering on fear, with the background of what happened two weeks ago with tornadoes in some states. One cannot help but feel so vulnerable.

The storm according to the radio station was moving at five miles per hour and with that, it took about thirty minutes for the storm to pass. I filled up and went home expecting to see the grass soaked with rain and my crops watered for me, but to my surprise, the rain did not even cross the county line, how much more get close to my area. The grass was as dry as ever, the dust trail followed the car on the driveway, confirming the dryness was not touched. For all the pounding the car took,not a drop of water on the the garden.

The crops are still very young and holding up very well while the established crops, onugbu, nchu anwu and basil/curry are doing great. Also are the Spaghetti squash which planted themselves or rather grew where they were thrown in the compost pile and flourished. Being in a compost pile, they spread quickly and before long started flowering and bearing fruit.
I am not crazy about spaghetti squash per se, but the vigor with which they are growing made me excited about them. I had made the spaghetti squash for my mom to help keep her blood sugar within normal limits and keep her weight down. I served it with tomato and vegetable stew, usually spinach and sometimes with Jack mackerel or salmon. Other times, I served it with split green peas and and stew. Without the stew or peas, the squash had no taste and is stringy like spaghetti, and not soft. I did not like it too much although I did not search for other recipes for making it.

The seeds I threw in the compost pile germinated and spread out over the compost pile and beyond. Working in the garden this morning, after jogging to get back in shape, I counted fifteen heads of squash scattered over the squash plot, in various sizes, from new ones to football sized heads which will be ready for harvest in a matter of days, maybe few weeks.
I have to find a way to eat them and store them and that's when I started searching for recipes for spaghetti squash. With a few pounds to shed, and the tight economy, the squash will be a blessing indeed along with the other crops. Summer looks very promising for a bountiful harvest, if judging from the harvest off the plum tree and the flaming yellow flowers on the silk oak tree a few weeks ago.
It looks like the winter cold spell was just right this year and the fruit trees and plants are doing very well. I remember from years ago in the homeland,when a good harmattan spell predicted good flowering and fruit yields.

Gardening is becoming more popular as more people grow gardens to help put food on the table. I had no idea so many other people are growing some of their own food until I listened to a radio program the other day and found that it was becoming popular. Thanks to the bad economy and hardship. Gardening is fun, refreshing and gives one something to look forward to. The work, the results of the work and the harvest are great rewards and offers the opportunity for sharing.
It is hard to put in words, the satisfaction that comes from gardening, especially in the cool morning hours, before the sun is up and the air is fresh and the world is quiet. What a great time for reflecting, and renewing and refreshing of the mind.

With the profuse flowering and fruiting of the spaghetti squash, I cannot wait to see exactly what this plant has in store. In the meantime, I will just wait and see, and look up recipes for spaghetti squash. Other great squash are the buttercup, which is my favorite, and the zucchini. Those are coming up, looking great.
For gardening enthusiasts, the spaghetti squash is one vegetable to try this year. It is amazing to see those heads of squash scatter all over the place. Quite amazing and pleasing. Thanks to God for His blessings, the opportunity to plant and harvest being one of them.
Community gardens are available in some cities where people get small plots free of charge. Give it a try and enjoy the benefits and harvest. Bon Appetit.

Nwada Chinwe Enemchukwu.

Check this link.

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Reflecting on Psalm 23-4

We are never alone
Even when we are alone
Even while on a slippery path
We are never left alone.
Travelling life's byways,
Passing through rough terrain
Or thrust on bad highways
We are not alone.
In times of tribulation
Or even persecution,
We are not alone.
Just as He promised
Never to leave nor forsake us,
We are never alone.
Our heavenly father is always there,
His presence surrounds us,
Reaching every depth of our being.
His love envelopes what is His
At all times, filling lives with
Peace and serenity.
We are never alone
Having a God and father
of Infinity.

We are never alone
Even when it feels like we are alone
We are never alone.
In the lowest valley,
He makes a stepping stone.
And plants our feet on it.
As He perfects His plan
Put in place for us
Even before we were born.

We are never alone
Even when alone over the years,
His perfect plan is rolled out
One step at a time,
One day at time,
One month at a time,
One year at a time.
And we are never alone.
Looking back at the winding path,
Shows a clear design
Of the work of a star designer
Perfecting His plan
Over the entire span.
Never to make us a loner.
Even when the world thinks
We are alone and defeated.
We are never alone.
His love, grace and mercy
Deliver bucketfuls of blessings
Even deep in the valley.

Counting the blessings and
Sharing the blessings
Keeps the mind at rest
With a smiling countenance,
Knowing fully well that
We are never alone.
As some may believe.
What a relief!!!


Nwada Chinwe Enemchukwu
Onye Uwa Oma
na Orlando, Florida.
Pictures by Chinwe Enemchukwu