The sweetness of community gardening

Lathyrus odoratus 'Cupani's Original' growing in the plot beside mine

Ah, sweet peas. They always delight me. But these ones also surprised me.  You see, I thought ordinary, edible, green peas were twining up the trellis in the neighbouring plot. So I paid little attention to them the past couple of months because I was growing my own 'Little Marvel' shelling peas.

That is, until a week ago Sunday: while I was bending over my tomatoes and peppers, a breeze carried a familiar scent to my nose. I turned around to see my favourite heirloom sweet peas beginning to bloom.  I did a happy dance, clapped my hands and squeeeeed. Though I think this spontaneous, enthusiastic response was completely internal, I can't recall for sure.  Anyway, I know I put down the pruners, picked up the Nikon and spent several minutes capturing prettiness.

Originally this post was going to be about all the inedible yet nourishing features of community gardening. But if you look at these sweet peas, know that school children and their parents sowed the seeds and tend the plants, and appreciate there are no fences between neighbouring plots, you can probably write this post yourself.

And now, after I press "publish", I'm off the garden, to see and smell the sweet peas (yes, they're still blooming) and inspect the tomatoes, chard and beet (the last one).

But one question before I go: what pleasant surprises are sweetening your garden this summer?