A Bit About Growing

When I step back and really look at what's grown-up all around me since the start of spring I feel a little silly getting as excited as I do to see the few plants I started finally begin to flower. Mother Nature, in all her power, has brought forth all manner of plants that have gone from seed, to shoot, to foliage, to flower, to seed, and now receded to let a whole NEW crop of different plants take their place. The purple creeping charlie flowers that used to carpet our min-forest's floor have made way for a sea of wild strawberries. The wild fringy weed with the little cluster of purple flowers have almost all wilted away. These only to be replaced by tall stalky monsters with big waxy leaves that will very soon begin sporting drooping clusters of juicy mauve berries. (I really need to learn the names of all these plants.) In contrast, all the plants I started from seed in my basement back when the earth was still bare have only begun to loose the look of a seedling. But, I am elated that they are growing none the less. 

My ornamental cabbage. 2 inches tall. Started April 5th.

God's ornamental cabbage comes up past my waist and appeared out of nowhere. Very humbling.

I have always wanted to garden. When I was in middle school or high school (I can't remember which) I used to keep a little journal of different flowers with their latin names, growing conditions complete with images snipped from gardening magazines. I never actually PLANTED anything. That would have actually made sence. Instead I just daydreamed about rows of bachelor buttons (centaurea cyanus) and snapdragons (antirrhinum majus). I acquired this love of the idea of gardening from my grandparents. They had a spectacular garden. Rows of corn, lettuce, peppers, tomatoes... The veggies and the gladiolas were my grandfathers specialty. And my Grandma, my Grandma loves flowers. Some of my most treasured memories of her are the times we spent in her flower garden picking flowers and taking them back to her kitchen to make arrangements. No matter what season it is my grandma has fresh flowers in her house. I think I need to start doing that. OK, I take it back. I did plant something once. One winter when my grandparents were visiting us in Florida they bought me purple and yellow posies that we planted out front of our house. But, that's about it. There has been the odd mint plant and a couple cacti, but this is the first year I have ever planted seeds other than the beans in a dixi cup in elementary school.

I don't know why it has taken me so long to get my hands dirty in the garden. It seems like a shame actually that I've waited all this time. But, there is only looking ahead. So, I'm going to enjoy each moment I can steal to go outside drink in the sunshine, get my blood sucked by the mosquitoes, and make something grow. I have plans to expand my little terrace garden next year as well as reclaim the weedy plot of ground right out by the front of our garage and turn it into an herb garden. 

Currently the only landscaping I've done here is this pot of basil.  (Does that count?) Next year it will be a dreamy herb garden. I choose the adjective "dreamy" on purpose. 

The kids and I made a trip to the Lauritzen Botanical Gardens this morning and I was totally inspired by the geometrical multi-colored herb designs they had going over there. Sadly our trip ended quickly as the mosquitoes there were almost as bad as in our woods. I couldn't get many good pictures of the kids as I was too busy defending myself and Lola from those blood-thirty winged beasts. (The Missouri River is flooded, there is water every where. I guess I shouldn't be surprised by the mosquitoes...) 

To discorage the big kids running off without me, picking flowers, and generally being terrors I encouraged them to hold on to the ribbons.

It didn't work.

There is so much to be inspired by and so many possibilities to day dream about. For now I just have to focus on my little plot and my small successes. Like the lovely yellow flowers on my cucumber plants! It may be that it will get to hot for my snap peas and kale before I get to harvest anything. The deer may come and trample my ornamental cabbages and eat the tops off my carrots. But for right now, right this second I have a garden. 

I wonder if the bees have visited here?

Hello Peas!

Bumper crop of wild strawberries this year: the birds are happy.