My New Name

It feels like spring here in Houston. God has been kind to give us perfectly gorgeous weather. So a few weekends ago I wondered what may happen if I threw some seeds in the garden. But I knew that first, I would have a lot of prep work to get it ready.

Around July last year, I had to let the garden go. We had one of the worst droughts in years last summer. I couldn’t keep up with the demand for water and, my growing baby belly made it difficult to weed. In order to start a new crop, I would have to rip everything out, weed, add compost and so on. And while I was out there digging and ripping and adding, I found something.

This is not the first time I’ve found something surprising in the garden. And last year, it was my basil that spontaneously seeded itself that was most fruitful. For these reasons, I am now calling myself “The Accidental Gardner”. In fact I should practically write a book about how to successfully not-plan a fruitful garden!

In fact the whole thing reminds me of my continuing life lesson that God is always trying to teach me. That is, that I am not in control, no matter how much I think I am. And a good thing that I am not, knowing how selfish, unkind and sinful I am. How sweet it is to remember that God who is perfect, just, good and loving is working ALL things for good. What’s more, just like the seeds I plant, thinking I’ve done this great work, sometimes amount to nothing. God redeems them and makes them bountiful. He is the giver of good gifts, our talents and good deeds.

Back to my story, I was about to pull up what I thought was a weed until I remembered that in that spot, I sowed lettuce seeds last year. Not realizing it was too late in our season for lettuce, I never got any. So surprisingly, I accidentally have lettuce growing in my garden!

Now let’s see if the seeds I planted intentionally grow

Bountiful

This post makes it official...

I AM A GARDENER!!!!!!

Here is the proof...

As you may or may not know, I have been trying my hand at vegetable gardening for a few years now. All with NO success. Finally, this year, I made a break through. I've been harvesting my herbs for a while, and even some cherry tomatoes but here is real produce, straight from my own garden! 

I'm also excited about what's still in there. Tomatoes waiting to turn red, a handful of bell peppers, carrots still burrowed and even a few large cucumbers. I'm hopeful for a few other items but we'll see if the heat and drought don't kill them off first.

Garden Update

I can't believe it but I actually get to add an update about how well my garden is doing! Yay! So here is the progress so far...

The unexpected pumpkin patch

Growing green beans

Flowering cucumbers

Sugar Snap Peas ready to eat off the vine

Not in the garden but I am most anxious about the pomegranates growing in our tree!

Green and red cherry tomatoes

Big Ole' Tomatoes growing too!

Mending a broken heart...

For those of you who followed me last year, you'll remember my original post about my very first garden. What you may not remember is any other posts about it. As a newbie blogger, I felt compelled to only blog the good stuff. (Not realizing the bad/real stuff should be included in this real life blog) And so what you never knew was what became of that promising garden.

NOTHING

The rains came and flooded it. And what was left, the bugs came and devoured it, all in 24 hours. Needless to say, after all that sweat and hard work, I was one sad gardener. I swore to never garden again. My heart broken and defeated.

After stewing over it through the winter, I realized there were a few things I could have done to prevent that catastrophe last year. For one thing, better drainage. The rain had no where to go last year. Trying to avoid pesticides, I now know there are bug deterring plants you can use in a garden like marigolds and cilantro.

So with courage and commitment about me, I restructured and started again. When you fall off the bicycle...get up again, right?

Flowering sugar snap peas...mmmmm. From my new garden!

Maybe we'll have home-grown tomatoes in our salads this year!

I hope, I hope, I hope!

Crazy Thing

About a month ago, I brought in new mulch bags for the landscape in the backyard. It's springtime here so we've been fixing up the back yard and helping prepare for the new growth.

Well as things go around here, I didn't immediately get to those bags of mulch. They laid in the grass for quite some time until I was able to get around to them.

When I moved the bags to where they were intended to go, I notice a funky looking thing growing under the bags. I could only assume it was some kind of weed or even worse fungus growing in that dark wet spot. Eewwww I thought. I don't want to touch whatever that is, so I'll get Ian to take it out for me.

Well as things go around here, Ian didn't get around to it...ever.

So today I decided to brave whatever diseased, fungal growth it was and get rid of it myself. I pulled up half of it and realized these were no ordinary weeds. There were seeds at the roots of the plant. Confused, I tried to recall what seeds had been laid there because I don't ever remember planting anything in that patch of grass.

Then it came to me.

There was this....

And then this...

That's right. Some good, clean, pumpkin smashing in December. Well...I had to break them down for the compost, they boys were happy to oblige.

Anyways, back to the story. We have pumpkins. Pumpkins growing in our grass! Jacob can't wait for the harvest so I can make him some fresh pumpkin bread.

So here it goes. There's no other way to start this page than by confessing that I am known for my black thumb! I can not keep plants living to save my own life. I've tried many times, in many different places, all to no avail. When we first moved into our house, I plotted an area in our backyard for a garden. Thinking one day, I would be bestowed with the gift of gardening. I planted a bunch of herbs, and then had to replant more when those died and was finally left with the herbs that were not killable.  Well, I have met some really good friends that have taught me about soil, composting, drainage and all those good skills. I also read a book that was very helpful, The Square Foot Garden.  
This year,  I am trying my hand at vegetable gardening. I added watermelon, cantaloupe, beets, spinach, lettuce, carrots, bell peppers and marigolds to my garden. I followed the instructions in the book to the tee and this is what I came up with...

 To my surprise, the seeds are sprouting! So far so good! Now if I can only keep them alive through the summer until their edible. Stay tuned for details.