Bursts of Summer

Tomatoes Grow Wild

I had no idea a small tomato plant purchased from the Farmer's Market last May could grow into a wild monster plant, over taking everything in sight. I have so much to learn. Spacing, spacing, spacing...Next year it will be better. I hope. One small tomato plant took over my Shady Lady and tomatillos.

The lemons on the miniature Myer Lemon tree have been green all summer. I wonder when I will be able to make a lemon tart or a pitcher of lemonade...December?

The basil grew so quickly. I had no idea. I am thankful pesto sauce freezes well.

The jalapeno peppers did very well. I slice them fresh over my dinner. Tonight it was fish. I am also making jalapeno jelly. Very good over grilled chicken.

Bloom

We have made a little progress over the past year. We actually put in the patio!!!! I am pleased with how it turned out. I think it will look so much better with plants, lots of them. I want to put plants all along the edges, between the patio and fence. I am trying to decide between a uniform planting, repeating the same plant or a variety of perennials. Along the far fence, I am going to post 3 separate lattice with clematis vines. Just some ideas.

Here are some pictures from today. Spring has come to my part of the world!!!

New House, New Garden

We moved into our home about a year and a half ago and it is beginning to feel like home. The kind of place that we can stay a while, years even (especially in the current economic downturn we all find ourselves in). One of the things missing is a garden. It is currently a tiny L shaped plot of hard clay and rocks. I envision a distinctly different garden in a year from now. I want it to be peaceful, restful, and beautiful.

I do not have a ton of gardening experience. I have been a homeowner of 2 previous homes. The first garden, I did very little. Planted a couple of trees (saucer magnolia) and some agapanthus. The second garden was completely done, I just maintained it with a few changes. This third garden is a blank slate. I am thinking about a combination of romance and zen, clean lines interrupted by flowers here and there. I want a place I will want to curl up and read a book, sip a cup of coffee, or eat a yummy dinner with my family.

It is an incredibly small place, so the trick will be to make the right choices. I am doing research on small garden design, looking a lots of pictures. I have started a journal, cutting out pictures. Here is the beginning. The journey begins.