Watching Our Garden Grow

Last year, after dismantling our deck, we constructed a raised garden. The soil beckoned all winter and early spring, waiting for us to plant some "yummies", as Elliott calls garden veggies.  This weekend, we had the perfect blend of warm misty rain with alternating pockets of sunshine, similar to a Scottish fall day. Planting or weeding is smoothest during the rain.

A few days earlier, Alina picked up seedlings - only $1 a piece - both at our local organic farm and at farm stand. Tomatoes (big and small), green peppers, watermelon, cucumbers were among our choices for this initial year.

Rosemary adoringly arranged the seedlings, calling them by names such as "Lexi" and "Sammy". Both girls were remarkable gentle and caring with the tender young plants. We also picked up seeds: onions, pumpkins and sugar snap peas. We tried not pick anything that would be too difficult to grow.

Our friend Nickie also gave us raspberry bush shoots. Yum! Fresh raspberries! Assuming we coax them to grow.

We also picked up a composter. The kids excitedly dump yard clippings, food waste and paper in our black bin. Before long we'll have our own nutrient-rich dirt.

Watering is always a team affair in our family. The kids clamor for turns. Even Gretchen takes her watering very seriously. We talk about nourshing the plants.  We're choosing not to fertilize either our backyard, flowerbeds or garden with chemicals this year. Alina's keeping her fingers crossed that we can still grow without the chemicals!

Here's Gretchen watering a patch of planted wildflower seeds.

Only 6 weeks or so until fresh backyard veggies - can't wait! Our CSA veggie farm share starts up in 2 weeks - can't wait for that either!

Steve grew up learning and working in his family's garden so he's been our resident expert on building, planting and caring for our garden. He put up chicken wire to protect the young plants from deer and bunnies (and toddler fingers) and a fake owl to scare off rodents.  The kids call our owl their "pet". No name for him yet! He looks remarkably life-like.