Despite our valiant efforts, the poisonous Arizona summer sun has destroyed most of our vegetable garden. In its previous location where the chickens, ducks, and turkeys now dwell, we had installed shade cloth and misters to prevent this; but, as our new garden is just south of the kitchen and is visible from the house, we decided doing this again would not be aesthetically pleasing. Well, guess what? A bunch of dead squash and melon plants aren’t very pretty either.
The stalwart living exceptions are the hot pepper plants. Originally sown in an unsuccessful attempt to dissuade predators from the pumpkin and melon plants with which they shared the beds, they alone have survived. Lovely and colorful, they serve as the only decoration among the dead vines and pack a very hot punch in the kitchen.
The Thai peppers are the loveliest, the flowers of the garden. I wouldn’t suggest getting a big whiff though.
Don’t try to smell the habaneros either. They are one of the hottest out there.
Though considered spicy by some, the jalapenos are the mildest of the hot. Despite this, don’t rub your eyes after chopping them. Experience is a great teacher; it taught me this quite well, thank you.
The peppers that we cannot use fresh are being strung up and dried for our very first homemade chili powder, Rancho Laurena Something. I’d love some name suggestions from you clever people out there.
While I was photographing the peppers, Zorro took a dirt bath and then leisurely sunned his wing. He appreciated the dry soil the dead garden afforded him. I appreciated the empty shoulder break.
And just outside stood the main reason the pepper plants were planted in the first place, waiting in vain for new greenery to munch. I guess I owe him a thank you.
