She Gardens

Ah ha! It is official. After years of imagining myself with a garden, I am officially off and running with a bonafide plot all of my own. Seeds went INTO the earth yesterday, people! I feel so fulfilled and happy with myself. Yesterday Lola granted me two lengthy naps (earning her the title of Best Baby EVER). The first was while Normy was at Pre-K, so Georgia and I were able to go out together and get our hands dirty. First thing first though, we had a little outside snack.

Next I drug out all of my starts from the basement and set them out for their first day of hardening off. I felt like a protective mother taking her kid to the bus stop for the first time. Was the wind too strong? Was the day too cool? How would they do in the sun? They did just fine, and after four hours found themselves back safe inside under their lights. (Today I didn't put them out , though because the wind is crazy strong.)

After that Georgia and I planted cosmos in the planters out front, calendula seeds in a pot, and a pot of rosemary. That was about the time Georgia got bored and went in to do montessori math and letter games on the Ipad.

I however, went on to plant tomatoes, peppers, carrots, parsley, kale, and spinach in with the snap peas I already have growing nicely in what will surely be a deer buffet. I don't have fence. And as of yet, have been unable to get my husband to pee around the garden's perimeter. He claims it is too far a walk from the tree by the garage, which is his spot of choice.

I have also started a little space as a bee garden. Foxglove, canterbury bells, columbine, chives, and alyssum should start popping up there over the next few weeks if the gardening gods smile on me. I'm hopping to add some sunflowers, mexican sunflowers, and butterfly weed before the week is over.


But there is NOTHING I am more excited about than the flowering cabbage I have started under my grow lights right now. I don't know what it is about these lovely plants that really make me happy, but they are the only thing I really care if makes it this year... Funny because I haven't exactly figured out where to put them. I fell in love with them during a trip to Omaha's botanical garden and can't stop thinking about them.

image shamelessly stolen from here

I had a moment of pure bliss yesterday. After watering my newly planted lilac twig (hopefully someday a bush) the sun was warm and happily shining down on me and my garden plot. I thought it might be a nice time to visit the bees. I had seen several drinking at our pond and a few more in the creeping charlie... but I wanted to see the action out at the bee boxes. They didn't disappoint. Little gals flying into the hives with heavily laden pollen legs, plenty of activity, and an overall happy hum emanated from both front entrances.  Perfect.


So that's cool. As of this week I am both a new beekeeper and an new gardener. It's official because I have  been stung by the bees and I am currently covered in calamine lotion to deal with a nasty run-in with poison ivy! How sweet is that?