I have grown scarlet runner beans ever since I can remember. I have heirloom seeds that I collect every fall to dry and store for the winter. During the last few years as the weather began to shift planting became tricky. The deer were also decimating my plants before they could produce seeds pods so eventually after sharing seeds with others, I gave up growing my own…
Last winter I had an opportunity to look at lichens, molds, and stones under a powerful microscope at the Mineral and Gem Museum (MGM) and since I had one old seed from many years past, I took it in along with some slime molds because I wanted to see the colors. To my utter shock when I opened the damp packet the seed had produced a big fat white root.
Although it was only the first of March, I brought home my treasure and planted it in a pot. Any seed that wanted to grow that much had to be given a chance to live.
Within a month I had this huge vine climbing up my window. Every day, after apologizing profusely and telling the vine how much I loved her, I wound her tendrils back on each other.
May came with a hard killing freeze and then the rains began. The flooding lasted all summer along with the worst air quality we have ever had here in Maine (nano particles are not measured, the worst air pollution of all). Our beloved Northern Forests are still on fire.
In desperation I planted my vine just outside my window to avoid deer predation, where it immediately died.
Imagine my astonishment when a tiny leaf appeared about two weeks later in the rain. It was now almost July. The scarlet runner sent out more shoots and by mid – August tiny scarlet flowers appeared. Hummingbirds flocked to the blossoms. Bees too. I waited, and lo, a few pods finally appeared in September.
A terrifying accident prevented me from seeing my beans again… Just two days ago my dear friend James, the Bird Man, collected the few pods for me. Most were unripe but when I shelled the beans this morning I had three good seeds, and some unripe ones that looked like jewels .
I will dry all of them for about a week and then store the three viable seeds in a cool place for the winter…
Maybe my heirloom seeds will produce another magic vine or two next year. I know that I will never forget this old, abandoned bean seed that simply refused to give up.
I am awed by the Powers of Nature. S/he will endure. Perhaps before too long theses beans will be gone forever, but for now, I may see another scarlet runner vine bear flowers and seed pods next year.
Our only hope lies with the Powers of Nature. No matter what humans continue to do to destroy this beautiful blue green planet – one day S/he will begin again.