Rhubarb

While I will never have a sprawling rhubarb "patch," I have long desired to have one successful rhubarb plant. When I was a child, the rhubarb grew in a large patch which seemed to be simply placed there by Mother Nature. I'm very sure that no-one ever teased it into becoming the fruitful, high yielding, ever spreading patch that it was. Location, location, location. It began its life in naturally rich farm soil that assured long life and high productivity. After many years of personal failed attempts, I am cautiously optimistic about this rhubarb plant. It is in its second year. Last year I gave it plenty of compost and kept my eager hands away from it, determined to give it one season to get established. This year more compost..... and it has rewarded me with enough rhubarb for two pies, the second of which just came out of the oven.
I'm considering giving "Ruby" a sister, so that in this lifetime I will have enough rhubarb in one season to try all the recipes I've clipped - rhubarb upside down cake, rhubarb parfaits, rhubarb chutney pork chops. And most important of all, a couple of pots of the good ol' Rhubarb Sauce my mom used to make, and which I took so for granted.