Monday, September 22, 2008

Tomato Tree - Day 112

And then there were six.

It's autumn in Michigan. That means cool to cold nights followed by slow warming days. It's hell on the wardrobe. I start the day in long sleeves and jeans and somewhere halfway through I'm wishing for shorts and a golf shirt.

The change in weather is wreaking havoc on the plants. Virtually all the leaves have yellowed. I've had to trim out the dead vines. Six plants, six tomatoes. Three are too small to have any hope of maturing. The three others have a chance. Season's nearly over.

The base of the stand is looking rusty and a bit shaky. Maybe it's my imagination or because Halloween is off in the distance, but I swear I can hear a whispered voice saying, "Go away", every time I get near the planter. Yet, for no particular reason, I'm cautiously optimistic that we'll make it through without tragedy or fatality.

Isn't that what happens in every Stephen King novel?

Come to think of it, the whole Tomato Tree Stand saga would make a good horror story. Well, we're not quite dead yet. Maybe one or two more entries. Tomato Tree Sales VP & Customer Service Guru, Frank at Felknor still has a few days left to respond to my questions.

Now if I can just figure out who that guy is on the deck carrying an axe and wearing a goalie mask.

2 comments:

Maggie said...

I'm ridiculously fascinated by your tomato tree tales. I can tell that even though my tomato plants are still hanging on they aren't going to give me anything more. I can't stand to pull them before the frost gets them but they are a mess.

www.crabbycook.com said...

Maggie, I have to admit there is something mesmerizing about the tomato stand. It's like a car wreck, you know you shouldn't gawk, but somehow you can't help yourself.