 Can any garden resist Spring? Mine certainly can't. Even with gentle neglect, flowers are blooming, seeds are sprouting, and on the whole, it looks a lot less embarrassing than it did a month ago. That's not to say there aren't weeds. There are so many! And I won't be keeping up. I'm hoping that the flower seedlings will be able to take care of themselves. Zinnias are pretty dauntless, after all. But I will have to keep an eye on the vegetables. I want to show you the progress, but you wouldn't be impressed with the small seedlings fighting fighting for their lives against the weeds. I wanted to write a post about the hedge, but it's really not much to see or talk about just yet. So... Let's enjoy a few blooms! Bulbs have always been great around this garden. Powerhouses. Roses haven't fared nearly as well, but those that have survived are grand performers. There's one, Belinda's Dream, that even fades magnificently. The deciduous plants have leafed out. Those that died to the ground in winter, like lantana and salvia, are back and clearly preparing a takeover. We'll probably work in the garden this weekend. And isn't that a happy thought? Happy gardening! :) 
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 To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow. -- Audrey Hepburn "Going forward...I mean to minimize." HA! DOUBLE-HA! As if... It's Spring! What gardener could resist? We spent a glorious time in the garden this past weekend. The weather was cool and sunny and there was a constant breeze. We weeded, sowed, transplanted, and moved a few things around. So much fun. Then a grandfather and his beloved granddaughter enjoyed some quality time together. At one point Saturday, Joseph looked at me and asked, "How can we take it (the garden) out?"  Despite my upcoming surgery and his lack of gardening time, we agreed that we can't. At least, not now. I wasn't ready, anyway. We could feel differently by mid-summer, but in July and August, ambivalence towards the garden is nothing unusual. In any case, that's months away! True, it won't be a usual season for me. In a few weeks I will have another and hopefully final foot surgery. Since that will have me off my feet and out of the garden for at least two months, I've decided to try something different this season. In the past few days, I've sown flower seeds here, there, everywhere! I also popped herbs into almost every raised bed. I love fragrance in the garden. Joseph sowed cucumber, mehti, and squash seeds. Hopefully, we'll have a good harvest before it gets too hot. I was in charge of pepper seeds and plants. Colette broadcast sunflower seeds, which we've never tried growing before. Wouldn't it be great if they sprout before our neighborhood cardinals discover them? I'm hoping for a nice jumble of herbs, flowers, and vegetables. If even half the seeds we sowed this weekend sprout, it should be interesting. And our little garden/nature photographer took plenty of photos. I believe I will be calling upon her to do so again in the next few months. The giant plants will be huge this year. The garden will be outrageously weedy by mid-summer. But it's worth it. Our grandchildren enjoy it. We enjoy it. We cannot replace the beautiful times spent out there, nor should we forget the birds and pollinators. And if those flower seeds sprout... Happy Spring!  I don't know if you're aware of this, but when a gardener can't garden, it's depressing. Certainly, if you're a gardener, you know. That being the case, you can imagine that I've been rather sad. But this past weekend was a miracle! Late Sunday afternoon, I actually transplanted a few herbs and peppers from the nearby garden center. I was rewarded with mosquito bites, one ant bite, and a great feeling of satisfaction. But that was just a half hour of transplanting. Earlier this weekend, I had the gift of children in the garden. That was the miracle. I didn't ask our little grands to spend time out there. Lately, I haven't found it a very inspiring space. But they didn't comment on the garden's poor appearance. Rather, they busied themselves, playing, laughing, and reminding me that there's still beauty out there. Once our granddaughter Colette, age 10, finished filling the birdbath and taking a good look around, she decided to snap photos. I didn't think much of it, didn't think there was much to photograph, but I enjoyed watching her. Oliver, in his sweet, nine-year-old boy way, found two dozen different ways to have fun with the water hose. But first, he took it upon himself to do some watering, even dragging the hose to take care of the patio boxes -- no easy task and all his idea. Colette is a gifted young artist, and she's also interested in photography. I was surprised and pleased by her photos and asked her to make a reel for Instagram, which she did. From Colette: Gardens give joy, peace, purpose. But children, so precious, give much more. It was Colette and Oliver who brought a smile to my face and my heart and, I believe, to our garden. Love and innocence. God bless them and all children everywhere.   “For everything there is a season and a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 Poor garden! I would weep if I thought it would help. But it won’t and, anyway, there’s more going on than meets the eye. Lots of plants that went dormant are showing signs of waking. Little green leaves are peaking at the base of the sticks. There’s a flower here and there. Squirrels and birds are a lively presence. Still… It’s pretty barren out there at the moment. I wasn’t able to plant seasonal annuals. Flower seeds didn’t sprout – I think due to lack of water. And I wasn’t there to water where the sprinkler missed. There’s a lot of bare soil. Change is in the air. Going forward this spring, knowing that I will have another foot surgery soon, I mean to minimize. Tidy and low-maintenance are my new goals. Hardly my usual, but this year, it feels necessary. I’m the gardener. Joseph doesn’t have time, and he will have even less when I’m once again in a splint, then cast, then boot. I hope to be in recovery by high summer, but in southeast Texas, that’s not the best time to garden no matter the circumstances. And Fall? We hope to travel. Time to simplify. I think we might remove a lot of the giant plants. Much as I love salvias, for example, and gorgeous as they are in spring, they aren’t carefree. Once summer hits, they can quickly become a gigantic, overgrown mess that continues growing well into fall. The plants below -- lantana and salvias -- won't be easy to remove. The root balls will be HUGE. I personally don’t mind a bird garden, but left unchecked, it easily becomes unacceptable by HOA standards. Game Plan: Hire help to remove giant plants, weed, and mulch. That's work I can’t do right now, and Joseph doesn’t have time for. Still trying to decide if we’ll keep ALL the raised boxes. I want them. He’s not so sure. I’m not upset. Well, not entirely. Gardens are ever evolving, after all. There are even things I’m rather excited about. Some beds need a few new plants, so there’s that. And I have plenty of optional spaces for annuals, not to mention room for herbs and possibly some vegetables (even if we take out the big box). It’s a season within a season in our lives. Who knows what’s next? Wishing you joy in your garden this spring!  A beautiful day! I’m looking forward to sitting out on the front porch and enjoying the weather. It is glorious! I can only observe my garden right now. I’m not comfortable traveling on my scooter over a multitude of acorns, uneven sidewalks, and tree roots. I am hazardous just in our house. It sounds feeble, especially to me, but I’ve had a few close calls and I do NOT wish to prolong this particular sojourn. As for merely observing the garden, of course it’s frustrating. We’re approaching the middle of the best half of the year for gardening. I can only hope I will be able to spend a little time out there before the next surgery. I'm hugging that hope and it's a comfort. Hope always is! In the meantime, I can enjoy from a distance. It would not be a pleasure if I didn’t love the outdoors so much. But I relish the cool, refreshing temps and sunshine and take pleasure in watching garden variety wildlife. A week or so ago, there was a squirrel who appeared totally ready to launch himself at me. He sat glaring at me from the oak tree, pretty much shouting. It was a standoff that I won, but I must admit he had me wondering for a moment. I have yet to plant or sow cool season annuals. Well, except for nasturtiums, which are proliferating in a pot outside our bedroom window. I did not mean for them to stay in the pot. They need transplanting. Hmm…we shall see. In any case, some of our roses are blooming spectacularly and the vegetable garden appears to be thriving. Weeds aren’t too bad, which is certainly a temporary situation at best. But I’ll take it! And trees in our area are just now – quite reasonably – turning colors and dropping leaves. Our one young maple tree is a glorious gold. So much to enjoy. Praise the Lord of Creation! Wishing you a beautiful time in your garden!  November... It's one of our best months for gardening. Summer blooms revel in the milder weather, cool season flowers don't wilt, and the veggie garden can be a mix of warm and cool season crops. Since we have a small garden and, anyway, summer crops were mostly a bust, we cleared our raised beds for fall sowing. As I mentioned in my last post, everything is coming up. It's likely that for much of the season, this gardener will mostly enjoy the garden from a distance. If it's crossed your mind that I might be trying to figure out how I can get out there and play, you either know me well, are a gardener yourself, or you're a keen observer of human nature. But even though I'd rather be out there in the middle of everything, it's still a thrill just to see our garden flourishing. And Joseph has agreed to take photos for me, so that we can all see what's going on. For now, we only have flower photos. I admit to feeling a bit anxious about as yet having no cool season annuals. I bought seeds, but I ran out of time to sow them before surgery. I suppose it's not too late to do so? And while I didn't want to buy flats this winter, we could always pick up a few. Our winter garden would be so sad without some pansies, violas, and alyssum, at least! What cool season annuals do you love best? I'll post more photos soon. I'm very happy with the raised vegetable garden so far and want to show off all the sprouts! :) Wishing you and yours a fresh and beautiful week ahead!  Sprouts are everywhere! ALL the seeds seem to have sprouted! I'm not sure if it's the timing, the little extra love and water, or what -- but there are a lot of cool season veggie sprouts in every bed we sowed. Lettuces, arugula, cabbage, kale, chard, carrots, parsnips, and more... And after tomorrow, I will hardly be able to venture out into the garden -- for months! Unavoidable foot surgery is going to tie me down. With that in mind, even with limited mobility and a lot going on this past weekend, I was determined to give my garden a little attention. Joseph helped. We thinned, moved, and gawked at the seedlings. I hope everything will continue to thrive. Given the great start, I don't foresee any problems. My hubby has inherited his father's green thumb even if he doesn't precisely share the passion for it, and he knows it matters to me. Anyway, who wouldn't want fresh veggies growing right outside their door if possible? It rained all night and still is, so I guess my active gardening is done for now. But I'll observe and make notes, dream and plan, and get out there whenever I can.  Happy Fall!
Clearly, my little garden does not provide us with substantial food year-round. Also, my husband and I live in the burbs, not the countryside. But I hold what I know is a romantic view of rural living and I respect those who work so hard to feed the masses. I love the following prayer. I don't think we have to be farmers to appreciate it. Wishing you a wonderful, bountiful season ahead! ... from Rural Life Prayer Book Good and generous Lord, You have once more brought the year full circle, through planting and growing and ripening to harvest time, and autumn. We thank You for the sun and the wind, the rain and the dew, the minerals of the earth and all the plants that grow and all the beasts and birds of farm and field. We marvel at your wonderful ways of bringing food from the earth for our good. Dear God, help us to use Your rich gifts as You want us to. Teach us to share them with our neighbors when they are in need. Make us see, in the marvelous succession of seasons, and in the growth and ripening of our crops, the merciful, generous hand of Your divine providence. Help us to realize, too, that if we keep Your commandments and live according to the inspirations of Your grace, we shall also reap a plentiful harvest in the autumn of our lifetimes; a harvest that we will be able to enjoy forever and ever, where no rust can destroy nor blight any least part of it. Amen.  September! Yesss! My favorite gardening time is nigh upon us! We are racing towards fall despite the extreme heat and humidity! This morning, I spent a wonderful time in the garden. I weeded, pruned, fertilized, and watered. I was hot, sweaty, muddy, and wet by the time I stopped, but I loved it. I felt like a real gardener again. I’m going to try to do a little every day.
I’ve had an epiphany. I’ve been at war with our sprinkler system since its installation ten years ago; we had it installed when we first moved in. It’s never been enough. No matter how many tweaks, additions, changes, improvements – call them what you will – and no matter how much money we have poured into it -- a ridiculous amount, I might add -- one area or another goes without water. Plants die, seeds fail to sprout, edibles wither on the stems when we’re not looking. Do you see where I’m going with this? Gardeners should always be looking. Why have a garden if you’re not going to spend time in it? For a gardener, it’s a joy to be out there. So – crazy thought -- why not water the raised beds myself? Imagine that! I don’t think it’s unreasonable of me to expect our sprinkler system to work. But it is unreasonable, not to mention stubborn, to deny myself and my plants to spite… what? The sprinkler system? I did ask my hero if he might consider attacking the problem himself rather than hiring it out again. He agreed! But Joseph is busy…so busy. I will be watering with the hose until he has time. Once he’s solved the problem (which he will if it’s at all possible), I will continue to monitor and not be a baby about watering my plants myself, as gardeners and farmers have done since forever. Watering issues aside, I’ve ordered more seed packets! In case you missed that post, I’m currently obsessed! In all my years of gardening, I’ve sown plenty of vegetable seeds but very few flowers. This summer, irritated by the poor performance of bedding plants, I tossed some zinnia seeds around and they grew! I became a seed monster overnight! I plan on buying very few potted plants this coming season. It's just so fun.  To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow. I've always loved that quote from Audrey Hepburn. Gardening is truly one of the most hopeful of activities. It's also one of the most fun! Hope and fun -- we need both, don't we? Generally speaking, seeds are simply tiny miracles of life. I believe that every gardener should have the experience of sowing them. That being said, I've always been hesitant about sowing flower seeds. I think it's partly due to my preference for direct sowing, straight into the earth, and my reluctance to nurse flats. At the same time, I feel our soil and climate are hard on little seeds, opposing my desire to sow directly into the ground. The few times I've tried haven't proven very successful. A couple months ago, aggravated by the weather and the poor performance of purchased bedding plants, I sowed some zinnia seeds both in the ground and in boxes. Victory! Unexpected victory! They all look very pretty. A monster has been created! Raised boxes are like giant flats and we have plenty. While I have certainly purchased tomato and pepper plants at the nursery, along with some herbs, I mostly direct seed my vegetable garden. While it's had its challenges, it's been successful enough. Moreover, I've found a good spot for a flat or two should I so desire. I'm so excited! In the next few days, I will direct sow more zinnias as well as some marigolds. In another month or so, I will start the cool season annuals in flats. I have an exciting variety and plan to mix them with the vegetables as well as in their own spaces. I'm especially eager to try to grow sunflower seeds. They cannot grow in our summers, but late fall should be cool enough for them. Yahoo! More soon! Happy gardening! |
Our GardenFor years, my husband and I worked at creating a series of gardens on our four-acre lot in a rural, Texas subdivision west of Houston. I have to say, it was a fantastic experience. Now, I have a pocket garden on a golf course. Archives
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