Last year we took a break from the garden: a) too much time b) too big c) harvest time always seemed to be when we were out of town in July (market/sales meetings/vacation/Neshoba County Fair).
Being outside made me realize that everything our yard is blooming and it's my favorite time of year thanks to Zyrtec! I am seeing so much of God's beautiful creation in all the plants, trees, flowers, and even the birds and squirrels seem happy that this long winter we've had is over. He tells us to look to nature to see HIM and I really thought a lot about this on Saturday as I was planting seeds that would become beautiful flowers in a few months. We talked about planting those seeds in Sunday School a few weeks back and I just hope that the seeds I plant daily, in life, will one day look like the beautiful zinnias, sunflowers, snowball trees, azaleas, and roses that we are seeing this time of year. That is something I am going to think about a lot this spring and will be my inspiration, with God's love and grace, this spring!
We regrouped, got our rows flattened out and decided raised beds might be a more manageable option. I wanted more flowers and an easier way to grow vegetables without feeling like we had gone into the Amazon rain forest.
Rob built these by using 2x12 lumber and I have 4 raised beds that are 4' x 12'. Got dirt delivered and here are the results.
I actually had seeds to fill one entire bed of zinnias (makes my heart smile just thinking about this) and one whole bed of sunflowers (also very very happy). Got all of these planted Saturday morning!
Rob not so happy that he will only have 2 beds for tomatoes, cucumbers (which will become his delish pickles), eggplant, zucchini, peppers, okra (maybe), squash, and a few strawberry plants. We will probably start planting vegetables mid-May. I have also have some small planters on the patio with basil, rosemary, mint (EEEKK...LOVE!), and parsley!
(Already starting to see the beginnings of some strawberries!)
I have used these blooms in several arrangements over the last few weeks and several people commented that they thought they were hydrangeas! One of the best plants we have added to our yard is this one! It has grown so much over the last several years and the blooms are endless.
This is a rose bush that i got a couple of years ago and I think it is called "Mrs. R.B. Cant" antique rose. It's beautiful and I just get excited thinking about all the blooms it's going to have this year! Will make a gorgeous bouquet for something!
And I don't believe any Southern home is complete without some azalea bushes (and hydrangeas). We have white and bright pink.
I wish I could bottle or produce a candle with the scent of the wild wisteria that grows for about 2 weeks in our backyard. I took these pictures on Saturday and now the blooms are almost gone. It just smells heavenly and doesn't last long enough.
Not sure what the pretty little purple flowers are but I like em!
Pink azaleas starting to bloom in front yard and our freshly painted bright green door!
A springtime tradition at our house on Spring Avenue!
I added these two hydrangeas last summer after I had two die several summers ago from extreme heat. It was my mission in life to keep these alive last summer, watering them, some days, morning and night. And look at them now! They get the perfect amount of morning sun and are then in the shade for the rest of the day! They are also right next to a camellia bush and I am thinking this might be a great summer reading spot!
This verse is one that I read recently and went back to as I worked in the yard Saturday:
Speak to the Earth and it will teach you.
Job 12:8
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