attempting to grow stuff...

We decided to put in a garden this year. I'm not sure what has happened to me over the past couple of years, but all of the sudden I need to grow stuff. Maybe I'm trying to direct my need to nurture elsewhere since my no-longer-toddlers seem to need me less and less these days *sigh* and Kris keeps avoiding the subject of a third kid. Last summer we got the dog and this summer we're growing vegetables. Next summer: horses! Okay, maybe not...

Anyway, what was I talking about? Oh yeah...the garden...

We started green beans and peppers from seeds in the house a few weeks ago. Sam's green beans sprouted REALLY fast. This shot is from four days after planting:

By the sixth day, they were screaming to be put in the ground:

Thankfully, my landscaper was quick to get the first garden box installed so we could plant these outside:

The first round of outdoor planting included the few beans we started inside, another row and a half of seeds for additional green beans, a summer squash plant, three zucchini mounds, two pre-bought pepper plants and two pre-bought tomato plants.

Grace's starter peppers in the house weren't doing too hot at that point. Since Kris seemed to think that the sun coming through Sam's window could bring dead things to life, we moved the starter peppers from Grace's sill to Sam's. They perked up and seemed to be ready to go in the ground outside after another week or so. Sadly, now a week later, they aren't looking too hot. We may need to replace them with two or three more pre-bought pepper plants in the near future.

After getting the first box set, Kris got to work installing the second box...and cutting the cable wire...but that's off the subject again...

The second box went in and I planted a pre-bought dill plant along with two rows of carrot seeds and two rows of pea seeds. Molly promptly dug up my peas two days later, and Sam and I tried our best to pick them all out of the grass and get them back in the garden. The poor things were already starting to sprout. I wasn't very optimistic that they'd make it, but, after what has felt like an eternity of rain the last few days, I looked out the window today and saw that they are starting to come up! I've never been so excited to see the beginnings of a food that I absolutely hate! The second box still has some room, so I will be planting two cherry tomato plants that our neighbor brought over and maybe a blueberry plant for the boy who LOVES berries. Thinking we definitely need to do that since our potted strawberry plant seems to be turning out to be a giant fail.

We also purchased a cilantro plant that we potted, which has prompted Kris to start making the yummiest salsa ever...seriously, I think we might need to start selling the stuff...so good!

Out front, we've been working on growing flowers from seeds. The kids each had a starter set for some wildflowers that have been busy growing on Sam's windowsill. I think they are just about ready to go in the ground. I also planted a bunch of seeds in the front beds this year. Although, I'm quickly discovering that I'm really more of an instant gratification girl when it comes to flowers...I'm starting to get annoyed that all I still see is bits of green rising out of the mulch. If I start flowers from seeds next year, it will be in the house in February so they are blooming and beautiful by the time they go in the ground in April.

Once this rain stops, I'll get some pictures of our progress around the yard to post. Is anyone else growing anything this year?