by Susan Hitchcock

‘Tis the season for digging down, tilling, picking your garden plantings and watching all those healthy edibles grow into the season’s unending abundance. There’s no end to the variety—that’s a good reason to start. There are many components that go into what grows—our own tastes, how they cook up, what guests like and then there’s just the fun, exercise and joy that gardens can give. Here are some suggestions on how to make these choices to make our garden experience that much more rewarding.

In our garden of health, plant edible beauties with delicate tastes. Keep separate the peppery reds. The art is using each for their intended purposes in cooking and don’t forget their benefits for healing the spirits.

In cooking or in preparing cold dishes, subtle choices offer a variety of recipe options, so use them often and abundantly; spicy ones will astound, titillate and even upset our senses. The sting surprises, lingers and dominates the taste of the delicate, so plan to use for “stand out” dishes only or to introduce them in dips, sauces or spreads. Ask diners ahead if they can’t handle these peppery flavors and judge accordingly how to prepare the menu.

Delicate garden ingredients calm while opening the senses and allow the taster to savor their nuances; they can also allow satisfaction and serenity to take hold without the “flash in the pan” punch of those spicy partners. Choose those subtler, highly adaptable choices. Consider learning how to introduce spicy accents gradually into foods that balance the tastebuds, but don’t wipe out those of their calmer components. Another option is to invite guests with menus that we know they prefer—strong and stimulating or relaxing and subtle.

There will be an infinity of flavors from the garden. Like we humans, gardens can appeal and satisfy many of life’s many pleasures. Above all, enjoy and share them abundantly with our friends, neighbors and loved ones. Another forum would be to set up a small front yard stand of colorful overflow veggies and herbs with a “Take What You Like or Share What You Take!” message. People will pass along their blessings from experiencing this and any proceeds can be given to a favorite charity or cause.

So, what’s keeping you—get out, grow and share.