A promise is a promise...

as my four-year-old son says. And, because I promised photos of the tulips, I am also including a couple of shots of my yard gardens. Anyone want to help me with them, let me know. I have some tools now. Thanks for sharing in my new found joy with these.

TULIPS ON SOUTH SIDE OF GARAGE:

FRONT YARD GARDEN: Northwest side of yard with lots of perennials.

FRONT SIDE GARDEN: Southwest side of yard facing busy intersection. Rose bushes, yellow daffodils beneath the roses, ornamental grasses including Silver Feathers that reach as tall as the wooden fence late in the season, and other misc. perennials. You can slightly see the tulips under the garage window.

VEGETABLE & HERB GARDEN: South side near fence, further back in the yard than the Front Side Garden. This one will need a lot of work, and the perimeter where you see the rocks has scattered perennials and green onions which have spread out from inside the fenced in area. I think the green grassy bush inside fenced in area is chives.

A dream to share the goodness

The prospect of having my own vegetable garden is so exciting. I’ve decided not to start from seed this first year, because I have enough to do just identifying what I have and determining which ones are weeds. I hope to purchase already established veggie plants and move them into their respective spots in the raised bed in the next week or so. The start of something new is inspiring. My husband and I are looking forward to harvesting the fruits of our labor, and perhaps cutting down on our summer and fall grocery budget.

My dream the other night was that we will grow so much food we won’t be able to eat it all. I’ll be forced to share the bounty with neighbors, friends…and possibly the homeless in nearby downtown. I actually dreamed I was carrying a large platter or bowl in front of me filled with carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, zucchini and so many colorful, edible, fresh things. I didn’t see who I was bringing them to, but just the vision of color and plenty was overwhelming in my heart. Maybe the dream tonight will be about who is on the receiving end.

I’m sad I don’t have much to share now. But I believe that God is doing a work in me, that will grow as the plants grow…and that each time I get out the watering can or hose, that God will fill me with His desire to feed His children, the least and the lost among us, and fill me with His Holy Spirit in all things I need. I’m so thrilled to be able to share in the goodness with those around us. I wonder how this will play out, or if it will come to be.

“Nobody knows the shape of newness. That is what produces the uncertainty and anxiety. I believe that in all the great public, missional issues, we will live for a while between the times, until God’s spirit leads us into a freshly formed life together. That anticipation of God’s newness requires alert watching for glimpses of God’s work and God’s will.”

~ Walter Brueggemann, The Threat of Life

Bright colors of spring are starting to arrive

I bought a shovel last night, a spade really, and a branch lopper because I broke the one my mom loaned to me. I was hoping to get those plants into the ground, but my schedule prevented me from getting my hands dirty. Unfortunately, tonight’s schedule is just as crazy. Besides, the news has predicted more rain this afternoon and evening. Oh, the rain is so needed, to drench the ground is helpful. Now, figuring out when to fertilize (soon) and do some weed-killing.

Did I mention that the tulips on the side of the house have sprung open in a glorious red? Yellow daffodils are scattered throughout the front corner garden, in front of the silver feather grasses I just cut down last week. They are popping up under the rose bushes, and seem to be sprinkled around the whole area. How exciting to see these glimpses of color as spring arrives. I’ve been rushing out of the house in the mornings and barely able to feed the kids in the evening before the sun goes down…so unfortunately I don’t have photos yet. Perhaps tomorrow.

 

Waiting for some sunshine

After a weekend of indoor projects, I’m finding it hard to get motivated to get outside again. Monday was cold (50degrees) and wet, and the icy chill of almost spring entered my bones. It’s going to be warmer today, and I want to get those new plants from Bob into the ground this evening.

 

How I wish sometimes that I had every warm sunny day at home to plant, weed, and enjoy the earth. But, I’m still glad to be employed during the daytime, and it makes sense right now to be doing what I’m doing. So, for now, my garden and family get me on good evenings and weekends. The cold wet evenings will lend me to a glass of wine, and sitting on the couch with my children for a movie, or an evening of indoor organizing. Since we moved in during the winter months, there’s always something left to be done. I know I’ll never get through all the boxes at once…but I can tackle one at a time.

 

I hope to try an organic herbicide on my dandelions in the lawn later this week. I’ve heard straight, strong vinegar will kill them to the root. Vinegar As Natural Weed Killer | Uses for Vinegar I’m looking forward to giving it a try, without killing the grass.

 

 

Rainy weekend

Friday I cut down some more ornamental grasses, and found additional tags for identifying the plants left behind. How wonderful! It was very windy, so really only spent an hour after work doing this clean-up.
The forcast said rain all weekend, so we made plans for a date on Saturday. Although lunch and a movie without the kids was a great option, the weather turned warmer and sunnier in the afternoon. And then by the time we picked up the kids from grandma's house, did a little grocery shopping, and started dinner, the sun had gone down and another day of gardening did not happen. Aside from a wonderful voicemail from my friend, Bob, it was a garden-free day.

We went to church on Sunday morning. Bob's message said he had perennials that he was clearing and thinning out, and wanted to bring them in for me. We gathered the several buckets of dirt, roots, rhisomes, and bulbs and brought them home to the cold wet rain of the afternoon. The buckets sit in the garage until I can get the iris, cinnamon ferns, rhubarb, and hostas into the ground. Maybe Monday or Tuesday afternoon will lend warmer weather so I can get out there in the garden again.

At least the rain is good for the plants and lawn. It's all looking so green. The tulip bulbs are higher, but still not open. I maybe see a bit of color, but it's hard to tell. New yellow daffodils are all over the front corner garden, mixed beneath the rose bushes, crawling plants and ornamental grasses. I never knew how good for the soul all this earth stuff is.

So...what's on the side of my garage?