Planting

We planted our tiny garden two weeks ago while she was languishing on the couch the day after her tonsillectomy. We are very much amateur gardeners. Five years ago I tried my first garden, planted way too much, lost heart in the heat of the summer, and only harvested mutant cross-pollinated green pumpkins/orange zucchini hybrids. After that, various pregnancies and a sleepless baby Amber removed all gardening motivation until we moved to Sunnyside last year. Our house has a pleasant bit of earth right outside the kitchen window.

Last year we planted 3 tomato seedlings, three sugar snap pea seedlings, and 1 zucchini seedling. Since we planted everything quite late (in June, right after we moved into our house), we only had marginal success with the tomatoes. The sugar snap peas died within two weeks and later I learned that they need to be planted before it gets hot. We got plenty of zucchinis before the plant succumbed to a mysterious ailment and withered away before its time.

This year I decided to expand just a little. Throwing caution to the wind, I purchased six sugar snap pea plants, three tomato plants, and two strawberry plants. Grama Leslie gave us two broccoli seedlings and Jay brought home a cabbage seedling from school (random). We have seeds to plant watermelon when it warms up a bit. Compared to last year, this garden is huge!

Before we could plant those lovely greenies, however, we had to hack through the thick weeds that had gathered forces and overthrown our bit of earth. It was Saturday, April 14th. Amber was watching movies inside with her recently lasered throat. Jeff was at a track meet. I was taking the day off from running, so I had energy to spare on such taxing activities as gardening. It is oddly satisfying to clear weed off a patch of ground. It is also a ton of work, but we managed to remove the noxious weeds and within about 90 minutes we had a smoothly raked square garden area. We carefully laid out our seedlings in their wimpy planter pots, then we took turns digging holes and planting the seedlings. Working with my hands in the earth is a very connected sort of feeling. There is something very basic and meaningful about tilling and caring for our allotted garden.

Before, full of weeds. Pictures never do the before justice. I almost forgot to take a before picture because it doesn't seem like that big of a deal. Suffice it to say this took 90 minutes of work to clear. 

Hard at work. 

They started getting bored and took turns climbing into the trash can to "stomp down" the weeds we tossed in. 

 Digging

 Six holes for the six snap peas.

Adult gardening gloves are not all that effective on child-sized hands, but Rose made do. 

Rosie took a couple of pictures, forgetting the detail of waiting till the subject looks at the camera before clicking the button. 

We also planted a Jay-hand. 

 Strawberries

 Who knows if it will grow, but the garden is planted! So far two weeks later, all of the plants look the same to me. At least they aren't dead.

Jay made himself a river and pond. 

Very zen. 

Before/after.