Aside from my family (both biological and other) I have few obsessions in my life- things that if were removed from my world would absolutely make it so that life would lose all meaning and purpose for me. There are not many because as I get older I think I'm starting to understand the difference between what I "like" and what I truly love. For instance, I am totally and completely obsessed with religion- not just mine, but all different theologies fascinate me. If I could go back to school for a Doctorate it would probably be either in Theology or Ancient English Literature. Or better yet, some bizarre combination of the two. I am also totally and completely obsessed with hand made and OOAK stuff. This goes back to when I was a kid- my mom taught me to crochet, garden, and sew (thanks mom!) and my step-mom taught me how to preserve, cook, and craft (thanks other mom!). More recently I have discovered that I am totally obsessed with gardening. I think it kind of goes along with the hand-made thing. I love creating something, and there is nothing more powerful than creating life. Not quite on the level of human reproduction, I am sure, but there's something so amazing about putting little seeds in the ground and watching them turn into something life-sustaining and beautiful.
Thanks to Luis (who patiently and sweetly endures all of my obsessions), I have quite an impressive grow-op this year. We've just got herbs and veggies going on, but in a couple of months I have a feeling that the results will be phenomenal. Check out the before photos and then come back in a month or so to see the afters.
These are our deck pre-container gardening madness. I have taken a cue from Gayla Trail at www.yougrowgirl.com and have supplemented my growing spaces with large containers that will very shortly (after the last frost which is sure to occur sometime this next week or so) contain vast quantities of delicious home-grown veggies and some pretty potted plants (petunias- lots and LOTS of petunias!!)
Here are some close ups of my sweet babies. There are sugar snap peas which are just starting to wind their way up the trellis I put in for them, my beautiful little radishes which are just starting to poke up in between the shallots and onions (French Onion Soup anyone? Yum yum!), as well as my puny little hot peppers who are currently taking a sunny vacation under my newly installed grow-lamp (we have 6 varieties pictured here- Poblano, Anaheim, Serrano, Habanero, Jalapeno, and Hungarian Wax peppers). The last photo is of my soon-to-be herb garden. Top to bottom, left to right we have rosemary, more rosemary (it's like my favorite plant of all time!), Anise, chives, Black Opal Basil, parsley, chamomile, Mammoth Dill (which isn't exactly mammoth yet but which is hanging in there like a champ!), oregano, cilantro, sage, and garlic chives. Not pictured are Cantaloupes, Cucumbers, Celery, Tomatillos, Tomatoes, Eggplant (for eggplant parmesean which will feature a sauce made from the herbs, onions, and tomatoes!!!), thyme, lemon creeping tyme, mesclun, cress, spinach, and a few other herbs. Oh the heavenly concoctions that we will prepare this summer!
Don't worry- you are all invited. Just make sure that you call 15 minutes in advance to warn me so I can stop digging in the dirt long enough to wash my hands and put on some shoes. :)
4 comments:
That is so awesome. I love that you garden. And I'm jealous. I often dream of having an incredible garden of my own. But, I just don't seem to have space, time, or energy. And it takes so much work to get most things to grow here in the scorching desert. Anyway, good for you. Next time I'm up your way I'll come over for some yummy home-grown home cooking.
you're cute. and I love you.
in heaven when we all live in our big family complex, I'll do your sewing for you if you do my gardening. deal?
Tell me about it. Utah is a desert, too, originally, with a couple of random lakes dotted around. Gardening in the desert takes special water retaining soils and a drip irrigation system. Even with that, your precious little planties still might not survive the scorching heat of July and August. But that's ok. In Heaven we can make a big garden plot outside of Emily's house. She can sew us neat aprons and bags to carry around our tools and our harvested goodies so we can take it over to Ana's house and she can cook us amazing gourmet meals. I sure would like some company out in that garden, you know. :)
Totally works for me! I don't sew, but I love gardening and I love to cook. I'll sign up for pretty much anything but cleaning crew.
The word verification is "squinksu", as in "I'm going to squinks you!" or "You little squinks, you."
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