Growing Things

While I would not consider myself to be a green thumb, my attempts at a garden have been much more succesful this year than they were last year. I learned what not to do from that experience though so at least it wasn't a total waste. This year, instead of doing all seeds, I did half plants and half seeds and amazingly enough even the seeds have sprouted and are growing into good healthy foods for us to eat. Their flavor I'm sure will be enhanced by all the work and worry that went into them...

We've got tomatoes (4 different varieties) and lettuce, broccoli, carrots, peas, and spinach.

In the front is oregano, a gift from my mother-in-law's herb garden and rhubarb, a gift from a neighbor.

And hidden in the shadow was an experiment: potatoes. They were forgotten under my sink and went to eye so I decided to plant them and see what happened. So far they are growing seemingly faster than everything else and I am so curious to see what we will pull up from the depths...

And this is my hanging strawberry plant. Yum.

And along with my vegetable garden I have also (finally) finished my front planting beds. A couple of years ago we ripped out huge hedges that overwhelmed the front of the house. Since then I have gradually been working at improving the space. I meant to finish it last year but was thwarted by my broken foot that kept me indoors most of the spring and summer. This year I have been unhindered and despite the fact that I am neither a green thumb nor a landscaper, think I have done a good job of making that space look nice. At the very least it is no longer filled by ugly, half-dead hedges, or an overgrown weed bed.



The azalea bushes in the middle are past their blooming prime but they were so full of beautiful pink flowers--so pretty! And I can't wait 'til the lillies and morning glories, which are creeping up my railing and mail box, bloom.

I am not nearly as brave as my sister Loey who has a true gift for growing things. She likes to keep a trowel handy in her car so that whenever she spots flowers that she wants she can take a cutting. Of course she asks the owners (everyone from neighbors to business owners) first and I don't believe that she has ever been turned down. Now she is the consummate gardener! I did however ask a friend for cuttings of her phlox and hens-and-chicks, which she gladly shared with me. I was also gifted with a chamomile plant from my mother-in-law and nasturtiums from my brother-in-law. These certainly have cut down on the expense of landscaping!

Oh, but my house looks so much better...


Now, if I could just get those dang shutters painted...