Okra

The first summer I was in Minnesota I grew okra in the garden. I wasn't even sure if it was possible to grow okra in Minnesota; it loves hot weather. But the okra plants that year were spectacular; some of them were eight feet high. I had plenty of okra.

I haven't been able to repeat that feat. I get some okra every year, but not like that first year. Last year the okra plants had just started to produce when we were hit by an early frost.

This year we have had a very cool spring and early summer. Several cites in the Midwest, and the aggregated Midwest weather statistics, indicate the coolest July on record. My tomato plants, for example, although covered with fruit, have yet to yield a single ripe tomato.

The okra is quite remarkable. The plants are tiny -- less than a foot tall. But they are producing okra! The picture here shows the plants, including an okra pod that will be pickable size in a day or so, only two inches above the ground. It's astounding. I expect that in a week or so I'll be harvesting enough okra to take care of what I need.

In case you wonder, I like my okra fried. The secret to preparing okra is to fry it until part of it is almost burned; that gives it its best flavor. I like to cut up a few jalapeños in mine; gives it a little extra zing.

And mostly unrelated . . . I thought I would throw in a picture of a blazing star from the prairie. Our prairie restoration project has been quite successful. It's a pleasure to walk through the area and observe the variety of plants that have established themselves.