Seed catalogues have started to arrive and they are a welcome sign that spring cannot be that far away.  Many of the catalogues are highlighting more of the heirloom vegetables.  These plants offer greater variety in the garden in the way of color and flavor.  There are tomatoes, as an example, that are orange, pink or purple in color.  These tomatoes offer flavors that are different from any of the more common beefsteak varieties that are on the market today.  It is worth searching out these plants as seeds of the plants themselves.  They are sure to bring fun and excitement to the garden.  And to the table as well.  It may even be a reason to get some people to try vegetables that they may have not wanted to eat in the past.

[The garden pictured above is a community garden that Nancy & I share with two other families, here, in Medford.  The garden plot is approximately 20′ by 20′.  There are other gardens pictures in the photograph.  The community garden has been a place to experiment with new or older varieties of plants.  I have been wanting to use more of the heirloom tomatoe plants and will try them this year.   Half of the fun is getting together at the garden to do some weeding, pick the vegetables as they ripen and to share a glass of wine.  The garden is as much a place to socialize as it is to grow our own fresh, organic produce.]