What is the most dangerous thing a gardener can do?

The most dangerous thing a gardener can do is get all cleaned up, put on clothes meant for going out in public, then walk out to the garden for just a minute to check on a few things and expect to remain clean.

And that’s what I did this morning.

I got all cleaned up and put on some “going out in public” clothes.

Then I went out to the garden for just a minute.

I am brave and confident in the face of danger!

I checked the rain gauge. .32 inches. A nice amount on top of the .81 inches yesterday and the .24 inches the day before.

My clothes were still clean.

I was growing more confident.

Then I headed down the row of tomatoes to look for ripe ones. I had just picked a bunch of them yesterday so there couldn’t be that many. I found some ripe cherry tomatoes and reached in to pick them, brushing up against tomato foliage as I reached through the vine to get to that perfect ripe one.

At this point, I was still feeling fairly confident that I was in no danger of getting dirty or sweaty. I brushed against some wet foliage as I double-checked the squash plants to see if there was more summer squash to pick (there was) but from what I could tell it only left a few water spots on my shorts that would dry in no time. (Clearly, in shorts and a t-shirt, I’m not going out in public to any place fancy!)

My confidence grew! I was going to be clean when I came inside. I’m a pro at this, I thought. This is clearly not my first rodeo/garden, or day in the garden, as they say. I know what to avoid doing so I can stay clean.

Look at me, still clean!

So I took a few pictures and a video of my sunflowers (watch for it on Instagram later) and then came inside before I completely lost track of time (the other danger of going out in the garden for just a few minutes) or forgot that I was in clean clothes so I could go out in public.

Oh, the triumph I felt.

Then I looked in a mirror and realized that by reaching through the tomato plants to pick that ripe cherry tomato, I managed to get tomato foliage stains on my clean t-shirt.

Deflated!

But not beaten.

This just wasn’t my day.

Yes, it’s dangerous business to go out into a garden in clean clothes and expect to come out clean, but it has been done. I’ve done it. Just not today. But I’ll never give up trying or let a clean shirt keep me from reaching for the perfect ripe tomato.