Tulips

I didn't realize until I planted 80 of them that I prefer tulips in the morning or evening light. Wide open tulips are not for me. I think it's how they photograph them, closed up and delicate. They seem so vulnerable during the day as mine open so wide. At any rate, it looks beautiful in my new perennial bed this week with tulips, daffodils and bergenia in bloom.

                                

A Family Affair

I am so lucky the boys like to garden. I use that term rather loosely as for the moment I must be vigilent or Ezra will rake under my delicate lettuce seedlings. They tend to wander down the block while I putter around the beds, watering or transplanting as the work dictates.

To address my friend's question about gardening with children, we love having them in the gardens but have never read any books on the subject. We simply allow them to lead us through their interests. It seems to work out. Ezra is already smelling flowers, the same age at which Jonah started gently leaning down, nestling his nose deep into the bloosom and breathing in deeply.

As far as gardening tips, we love our book from Steve Solomon called Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades. It's really a Willamette Valley gardening reference book but we use it here where soils are loamy and deep and summers are hot and humid. Happy gardening to you all.

Lights Out

We turned off one set of lights in the basement - finally!! Today I transplanted most of the tomatoes, leaving the weak inside. I trimmed them down to healthy branches and will hopefully outplant them or give them away in the new few weeks.

We had fruit set on more than one plant downstairs and two of our transplants in the garden have fruit on them already. John is hoping for ripe tomatoes in June this year; if March and April is any indication of an early summer he might just get his wish.

The quick and economical setup. T8 lights, heating pads and self-wicking watering trays.

The famous indoor fruit set!

Tomato and pepper bed. Will also be planted with basil and carrots in a few weeks, and the trellis system will be more permanently established after the hoop comes off in early June. 

I am working on setting stepping stones in place and will plant the entire perimeter of our new garden space with creeping thyme, hens and chicks, low sedum and dwarf phlox. It will be an aromatic, colorful footpath and alternative lawn.

Spring Garden Update

This Spring has been a huge boon to our garden so far. Temps have been above freezing all but a few days since early March; I've transplanted out our onions (first time growing them),  brussels sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, pok choi, and our pea seeds have germinated. This bed is looking lovely with its little seedlings and small plants establishing nicely.

Last night I sketched out our summer garden in the front yard on our chalkboard, and am working on implementing it.

This past week we ordered 3 1/2 yards of farmpost and topsoil to fill our new beds which are adding 160 sq. ft., making to our front raised bed total about 250 sq. ft. If you include our south bed and the path along the back walkway I think we probably are gardening in excess of 500 sq. ft. in vegetables and fruits. We are also helping an elderly neighbor garden which is probably another 100 sq. ft - it will be our canning garden and Jonah and Ezra's corn 'field'.

I am looking forward to the big yields this year with the larger garden space. The boys are the most amazing sports about it, and have enjoyed the opportunity it provides for them to dig in the earth with their mama. I appreciate that they indulge me in this most sacred, healing part of my life. 

Garden Hand

I had an eager garden hand right before bedtime the other night. It was fun to garden with him, even though he tried to distribute soil evenly throughout our unfinished basement!

Cast of Characters

Spring has sprouted in our basement. I started many more tomatoes than we can grow so we can share some with friends and family. Yes, family. The idea is to hand-deliver them to St. Louis when we visit. It is looking green and lush. I hope we can keep up the strong vegetative growth and transplant these stout starts in the ground in 8 weeks where they will be further coddled by a temporary greenhouse because it's cold here.

I started some of our favorite, time-tested heirloom tomatoes: orange strawberry, box car willie, manyel, black from tula, amish paste tigerella. Early and mid-season tomatoes: quick pick, manitoba. Italian tomatoes, seeds purchased in Florence last summer: cuor du bue, san pierre, cos di florentino.

I started our eggplants and peppers, too: thai hot pepper, gourmet and golden bell. We have incredible luck growing really lovely peppers here, much better than we ever did in Oregon. Eggplants also produce an abundance that lasts us for many weeks of our favorite eggplant dishes. And enough to roast and freeze for late fall and early winter dinners.

Cultivation

Sometimes the unknown can be a dark, shadowy corner, something you would rather not unearth. You may encounter a stubborn root, so massive it takes much coercion for the slightest movement. Many more attempts to loosen it from the depths of the earth. Even more visits until you have exposed it sufficiently; you start the slow process of removing it.

When all is said and done, you have shed light on an otherwise dark area. You exposed and examined a stubborn root, a behavior that was weighing you down. The soul breathes in gratitude of this newfound levity. Freedom awaits you by facing those stubborn roots that took hold so many years ago.

A continual cultivation of heart and soul. This is our most important work here.