This post title reads (oddly) those little red guys are back

like I was having a serious break out or perhaps a case of poison ivy

but fear not...in reality I finally have tomato plants in my yard (again).  

Whew...tomato panic over : )

 Not sure what it is,  but a kitchen garden just isn't complete without these little red guys.....

the lowly and much maligned tomato plant.

The tomato plant can either be your crowning glory or the agony 

of your forever present brown thumb

which are you?

I often hesitate (even today) to purchase the little buggers at the grocery store. 

I'm spoiled. I've tasted tomato heaven...nirvana in a red suit. 

Yes my gardening gurus...we are equally appalled

and overjoyed by the often scary quantity of offspring 

a single plant will give and....

we are in love with all things tomato..ey

We sauce them and caprese salad them

We creatively arrange them on little toasts with basil fronds 

 And lets not forget the joy of knowing that their yours...you own them

you grew them 

and now you may eat them (all 4000 little cherries?)

 any which way you choose.

I had many, five to be exact,bumper crop tomato summers 

while we were living in Ojai

I've grown the best heirlooms, 

Cherokee, Black Krim, Green zebra

Yep... San Marzano, little yellow pears, 

The Mortage Lifter, Super Sauce, Sweet 1000, 

Early Girl and late Harvert.... the list goes on and on

 I've picked them green, gold, peach, red, orange,

 broken, split, oozing, buggy and just plain ugly

 and I have loved and enjoyed each and every one.

Eating a tomato off the vine,mid-summerr, hot from the sun is one of 

God's great gifts.

The juice flows and the sweet taste is like none other. 

The serious gardener and the "wanna be" beginner and urbanite 

all rejoice in their first ripe tomato.

You've earned it kids!

 Eat your work!

 It will slay you

The tomato is a rite of gardening passage 

 Camera in hand I photographed them on the vine,

 in a bowl, on a pizza, in a basket, on the grass, 

in a  salad, on the porch....yes everywhere but in the bedroom

 They gave me the inspiration

 for some of the best dinners I've ever eaten

 Will you deny that they are not beautiful?

Yes they are and we love them

I have so missed the vegetable garden and my little red buddies 

and I finally have a nice spot in our new house.

 It's small and not perfect but...

I vowed I would get at least one tomato plant in the ground by June 1st 

and I actually got to plant 4!!!

wish me luck

and

eat your tomato's 

their good for you

carry on tomato gardeners

xxoo

kel