By Tim King

Special to the Sentry

   I guess it comes down to that old saying – “be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.” Readers of my columns last winter will remember that I spent the last several months talking about getting some green back into my life. Over the cold, dreary winter months, my landscapes were filled with nothing but muted grays, browns and yellows of dormant plant life.

   Then, thanks to almost three entire weeks of rainy weather in July and August, I became surrounded by green – and I wasn’t happy about it. For example, there was the very persistent green algae I couldn’t get completely out of my pool, no matter how many chemicals I put in it. There was green moss growing along the cracks in my driveway, the north side of the trees, my deck and my roof. 

   I must have also counted a dozen different types of mushrooms in my lawn. Each one unique, offering a different size, shape and color to my rambunctious children who were more than happy to ‘discover’ these hidden fungal treasures throughout our landscape. At some point, I’d like to learn to accurately identify the ones that are safe for consumption. For now, the treasures are only admired and tossed back into the woods.

   Because of the non-stop dampness, any surface that did not completely dry out was susceptible to algae growth of one kind or another. One thing about plants – they find a way to grow, no matter where they are. 

   Looking out my window right now, I can see several small shrubs growing on the roof of the abandoned building next to my office. Obviously, there is no dirt up there, but somehow seeds found a place to germinate and grow. Perhaps, taking root and pulling nutrients from an old, rotted roof timber.

   I’ve seen trees that have grown around rocks, through chain link fence, sticking out of walls of jutting out from a rocky precipice. 

   On a trip to England last year, I remember being startled to see a plant of some kind, ferns I think, that were growing more than 20 feet underground in one of the dungeon-like basements we were touring. The tiny plants followed the exact triangular shape of light beaming out from a lamp that had been installed under the stairs so that visitors could safely climb them .

   I remember thinking how interesting it was to see something so lush and green, growing out of the rocks and gravel so many feet underground. How did it get there? ‘Where there’s a will, there’s a way,’ my parents used to tell me. So it appears to be true among any living thing as well.

   Yes, most of our short summer here in Maine may have been rainy and wet - perfect for growing just about anything green. Unfortunately, green isn’t the only desired result of many gardeners. Along with enough water, heat and light are also needed to ripen fruits and vegetables. It’s a balancing act.

   I’ve heard about how powerful rains bombarded tender plants, pummeling them into the ground and slow, soaking rains that saturated the ground, rotting carrots, lettuce and plants from the bottom up.

   The one bright side of all this rain (I’ve heard), is that it we should have a wonderfully vibrant fall foliage season. The added moisture produces more colorful trees. I hope this is true.

   It seems that most of my neighbors have also taken the soggy summer in stride. Rather than complain about their battered and unsightly gardens, they’ve rejoiced in their vibrant green lawns that never needed additional watering. Also, thanks to the moist conditions, many perennials grew better than ever and are now ripe for splitting and sharing or relocating to a different place.

   A simple solution to the abundance of green tomatoes in the garden is to pick the mature ones and set them on a sunny windowsill or put them in a paper grocery bag. Each method is a way of ripening the fruit more efficiently than letting it stay on the vine.

   Still other friends put green, unripened tomatoes into their pungent piccalilli batches each year. These previously unwanted and discarded cousins of the luscious, red fruit are only too happy to add a unique tangy flavor and firm texture to the mix.

   Yes, there is a bright side to most situations. As the saying goes, “When the world gives you lemons, make lemonade.” As unlikely as it seemed at the time, the sun actually did come back to inspire and warm us all again. And, there is still plenty of time to get out and enjoy it before the cold winds blow.  

   Go ahead. “Step confidently in the direction of your dreams” as Thoreau said. Just be prepared to encounter a green tomato here and there once in a while – and make the most of them.

   Tim King is a member of the New England Outdoor Writers Association who sees the forest and the trees from his home in Scarborough. He can be contacted for new assignments and adventures at sylvan.sauntering@gmail.com