© 2009 Heather Horrocks
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Horrocks, Heather.
How to stuff a wild zucchini / Heather Horrocks.
p. cm.
Summary: New York playwright Lori Scott feels like a failure when her
producer boyfriend calls it quits on both their relationship and her
first play. On a dare, she throws a dart at a map and ends up moving to
Brigham City, Utah, where she writes "The Garden Guru" column for the
local paper and ends up falling in love with local firefighter John
Wayne Walker.
ISBN 978-1-60641-094-3 (paperbound)
1. Dramatists—Fiction. 2. Journalists—Fiction. 3. Brigham City
(Utah)—Fiction. 4. American fiction—21st century. I. Title.
PS3608.O769H69 2009
813'.6—dc22 2009001344
Printed in the United States of America
Publishers Printing, Salt Lake City, UT
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
To my wonderful, witty, warm-hearted, and winsome husband, Mark, who dislikes zucchini but loves and supports me in countless ways and has made it possible for me to achieve
both my dreams and my own happily-ever-after
THE GARDEN GURU
Dear Dr. Dobson: I’ve just moved to Utah and the soil at my new home in Taylorsville is clay that clumps horribly and doesn’t seem to drain. Can you give me any suggestions for preparing my garden?
(Matthew)
Dear Matthew: Oh, my dear, you are absolutely right. Clay soil does not drain at all and your plants will need a better foundation. Add some organic material to improve the texture and biological activity of the soil. Peat moss is also good, as it will loosen the clumps. I wish you all the best with your new garden—you can make it work. I, also, am moving, though only temporarily. I will be taking a long-awaited three-month sabbatical to China. Never fear, my friends, I shall not leave you without gardening advice. I will provide a knowledgeable substitute while I’m gone; I will be sure to introduce that person in my last column before they try their hand . . .