Hello all! I find myself in quite the good mood despite the extreme (northwest extreme) heat and the fact it’s a Monday. Work was ok, traffic was pretty decent (is school officially out for all districts?), dinner was fairly quick and easy…in my book those are all feats to be recognized and rejoiced in when kicking off a new week. The icing on my Monday cake was my wander up to the my rooftop to check on my “garden.”
First let me digress a smidge. As previously posted, I’m a tiny bit of a garden nerd and am eager to see what is successful in our new home. We have a rooftop patio that is almost always exposed to the weather elements and a shaded downstairs patio currently occupied by garden rocks, concrete pavers, and one large pot containing the Lilac I have fostered and loved for over 12 years without ever being able to plant in the ground (hmmm, is this a reflection for my life stages? too deep, nevermind that one).
Around my birthday, I splurged hard core at the local garden/hardware store (it’s a locally owned business so I was just supporting my community, no judging). I bought some containers, and soil, multiple veggie starts, some fuchsia plants, and maybe a strawberry or two…ok, it was a lot for anyone who knows anything about the PNW weather. Our winter was not very forgiving and buying all this in not quiet spring was a garden optimist lotto which I was very aware. I spent a warm March day, digging and planting my little friends and prayed that they would survive and be heartier for their early outdoor start on the rooftop (one day, I would like it to be similar to a secret garden, an oasis in the city). I water and watched and hoped and pruned…
Today, after the incredible heat of the weekend, I am so proud to announce I have peas enough for a side, tomatoes will be more then my family can handle in one season (i foresee pintrest and “what to do with too many tomatoes” board in my future), my fuchsias are in full bloom and my strawberries are almost as big as store bought! It makes my heart smile to go from container to container and see the newest bud, vegetable or flower, imagining the wonderful meal I will enjoy, and taking pride in my hard work with amazing rewarding payoffs.
It’s true in my book that I enjoy eating the food I grow a little more then store bought. I love seeing and being a part of the process from start to finish. Observing how the slightest changes such as time of day for watering, what the soil was prepped with, or moving the direction or location of one pot, result in a amazing visible rewards. It’s a personal achievement I can share around the table with my loved ones and/or give back to the community I live in through donation. What’s your favorite part about getting into the garden? I’m curious to know if I’m the only one this jazzed about a little dirt and seed?
Tip(s) of the Day: Plant the things that bring you joy…When I’m overwhelmed in the nursery and not sure where to start, I turn the selection process into a sort of grocery list. What things am I grabbing from the produce bins that are staring me in the face at the nursery? I realize I’ll probably never be able to grow bananas or coconuts in Seattle but we eat spinach, tomatoes, and herbs almost daily…why buy them over and over when i can plant them once and have my own little store available when I need it? Psst…I also love the bulbs of spring flowers so almost all my containers have a layer of bulbs beneath the veggies. When fall comes around, simply remove any dead/dying plants and you’re set for a beautiful spring (and a reminder to start looking for the next season of vegetable starts!). Feel free to share your garden tips too! Who doesn’t love a little insider hint?
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