On The Mark: There are always surprises when putting garden to bed

Three nights of frost propelled us into motion. Our roomy veggie garden still had lots growing in it: squash, pumpkins, tomatoes, peppers, chard, kale, basil and other herbs. Green beans that have been bearing for eight weeks. Latecomer beets and carrots that didn't survive a first planting are now coming into their own.

So every evening, we spread out heavy plastic tarps over every square foot. Each morning, I'd uncover them, surprised at the moisture on the undersides and grateful to greet grinning, frost-surviving plants.

The garden was a project my Danish grandfather Renus (short for "Mari...