I admit it! I neglected the veggie garden this year. Okay, I neglected the whole garden. Chasing after a 3 year old and taking care of her little brother took most of my time this summer. We did get a few tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, and peppers, but what did really well this year were the root vegetables. The beets, radishes, and carrots were bountiful and delicious.
Next year we'll be reevaluating our veggie garden by moving things around and trying to grow more vegetables in pots. I'm hoping for a better crop of tomatoes!
It took me awhile, but the new garden is finally weeded. When I first started this new flower bed, the biggest job was to dig up the existing sod and to shake all the soil off of it. Once that was finally done, I started transplanting from here and there and then watered, and watered, and watered some more. Of course I planted things during the hottest part of the summer....not the best idea I admit.
Now the biggest job is weeding. It always amazes me how quickly the weeds grow, especially in a newly cultivated garden. All the crab grass in my new garden certainly was making me crabby!
It feels like it was just yesterday that I was admiring the tulips in the garden, but it's already mid August. I've been enjoying a lovely summer off thanks to maternity leave. I've been busy taking care of my two kids, but I have found time to play in the garden. I added two new gardens this year and filled them by transplanting and dividing plants from the rest of the garden. I'll post photos soon.....after I weed them!
We've had a lot of rain lately....a LOT of rain. In May, it's rained 10 days so far and today is May 17th. I know that garden is happy with all this rain, but seriously, it would be nice to see some sunshine.
The rain, however, does make for some lovely photographs in the garden!
Aside from tending my houseplants, my green thumb has been quite bored lately. I was shopping the other day when I stumbled upon these cute little grass seed growing kits. My daughter was very excited to plant the seeds, but she did expect immediate results. It's hard for a toddler to be patient! Every morning she would come downstairs and ask to look at her bumblebee. The grass only took a few days to sprout, but to her, I'm sure it felt like forever!
My intention was to photograph my amarylis every week once it started to sprout, but with a newborn I admit I've fallen a little behind with my blogging. So here is my amarylis in full bloom. A little late for Christmas, but I've enjoying it none the less!
With winter embracing the garden outside, I'm eagerly watching my amarylis. I planted in over three weeks ago and it's just starting to grow out of the pot. Patience isn't one of my virtues...especially when I my green thumb is coped up indoors. My houseplants pretty much maintain themselves. I've already transplanted all my hoya and pothos cuttings, and there isn't much left to do. Grow amarylis, GROW!!!!!
I think it's important for kids to appreciate nature and get their hands dirty in the weekend. In early May, my daughter and I planted giant sunflower seeds. I bought a package of Mr. Fothergills Giant Sunflower seeds and tilled the patch of soil by the fence. The seeds were really easy for the two year old to plant since they were big enough for her to grab.
Every few weeks we would go and see how the seedlings were doing and before I knew it, the sunflowers were taller than me. I think my daughter really enjoyed watching them grow and was quite impressed with their size. She especially liked it when I cut a bloom off for her to hold. She was so proud that she grew them herself.
I think kids need to get dirty in the garden. It gives them a better understanding of nature and where food comes from. In this case, the sunflowers will provide a delicious feast for the birds.
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