handsful

26′ x 110′ of good dirt, freshly tilled with fences and stakes set up.

We’re really late this year getting it all planted.  There’s just not been time!

But, we finally found the time to visit our little downtown garden center.  It’s been there for years.  They have an old sunflower hanging on the wall that’s over 100 years old.  I love old stuff.

And, I love having a truck full of baby plants and seeds, ready to find their home in our garden.

The next day was planting day.  And, we actually managed to have all 8 of us in on the planting.  Do you KNOW what a feat that was??  It’s rare we’re all together anymore…someone is always somewhere with friends, at work (3 of them have part-time jobs), at choir or worship practice, etc.

This is the expression you get if a camera is aimed at Payton.  And, yes, Ethan has black jeans on.  It was hot.  He doesn’t care.

So, what did we plant?

Corn.  Lots of corn.  14 rows with about 15 per row.

Better boy tomatoes, roma tomatoes, grape tomatoes, tomatillos, cucumbers (growing vertically this year), basil (for us and Marley’s bunny), jalapenos, habaneros (Randy is counting on lots of my homemade salsa this year), banana peppers, two types of bell peppers, green beans, and cantaloupes (also growing vertically…we have a plan on how to support those heavy fruits, we’ll see how it goes).

I’m aware I say this every year.  But, THIS year I’m going to stay on top of the weeds.  My plan is to work in the garden at least every other day and whack the green stuff that shouldn’t be there.  So far, I’m on track with this and it’s looking good.  Randy will also use our little tiller to keep the pathways clear.

As I finish this post, there’s a wonderful steady rain coming down.  Drink it in, garden…we’re counting on lots of good stuff out of you in the near future :)

And, here are the beds with their new occupants…we’ve added 2 holly trees (at the far right end and middle of the right side), pink knock out roses, and gardenias.  We nixed the hydrangea idea when I realized I could do gardenias.

I love gardenias!

We also added hosta behind the japanese maple…it had always looked so barren back there, and now it’s gonna be green and beautiful!

I’m so anxious to see those blooms open up!  I know it looks sparse now, but our landscaper planted sparingly, to allow for growth through the years.  When we first moved here, the plants were CRAMMED in and completely overgrown.  Don’t wanna do a repeat of that.

And, one of the best parts?  He said we could chop at those roses however we wanted and they wouldn’t die.

Not that we ever would.

Ahem.

And, he also gave us a 1 year warranty on all the plants.

So, they’re safe for the time being…

Last weekend, we…all 8 of us…planted our garden.  This is our 2nd year…last year we planted about 3/4 of it.  This year, the whole shebang.

I have no pictures of the actual planting, you’ll have to take my word for it.  It’s hard to take pictures when you’re hands are covered in wet, red dirt.  Clay, actually.  We live in NC, and dirt “here” is a relative term.  When we lived in Florida, a flimsy spoon is all you really needed to dig a decent hole in the dirt.  Not so here.

Why was it wet?  Halfway through the planting, the rain began.  Most of us stuck to it for a while, but some of us (ahem) went inside until it eased up.  Randy and Abbey get full credit for “all day” planting.

When it was all said and done, we planned the garden (what plants, how many, where in the garden, how many rows, etc.), bought all the plants/seeds, and got it all in the ground in about 6 hours.

Now, we water.  And, wait.  Some of the plants are still trying to get established and look a little wilty.  But, nothing has died yet.

Here are some shots I got as Randy was replacing some sprinkler heads

I know it looks like only dirt, but I promise stuff is there.  Cantaloupe, 4 kinds of peppers, 4 kinds of tomatoes, beans, peas, 12 rows of corn, and cucumbers.

Farmer Randy

Yes, I am that tall…

running from the sprinkler

Forgive my change of subject, but I love having wildflowers on our property

And, this is the field beside us.  They allow it to overgrow, then mow it, put it into rows, spread it out to let it dry, and then bale it up.  This happens over 4 or 5 days.  We’re in the process of purchasing this extra land now, which will bring our acreage to about 19.  So thankful for this place we get to call home.