Gardening 2011

I have never had a super green thumb. I've never been one to kill every plant I come into contact with, but it's not like plants and flowers just flourish under my care. I tend to kill a lot of indoor plants that I have. I actually think I've only kept two or three indoor plants alive and that's only because they're pretty hearty plants.

Last summer was our first summer in our house and I was really excited about planting flowers and vegetables and doing some gardening in our yard. We planted some beautiful flowers in the front yard and we had some amazing hanging baskets. One weekend, I went away with some girlfriends and when I got back, Tyler had built me a garden box for my vegetables that I started from seed! Sweet man.

However, at the beginning of the summer I got pregnant and I basically laid on the couch all summer and threw up. Fun times! All I could get myself to do was water things. No weeding or maintenance-- period. The flowers were really pretty, but my vegetable garden got out of control really fast. When we took it down in the fall, we had a vegetable box with a lot of overgrown plants. We had little to no yield all summer-- just a zucchini and cherry tomatoes that I would pick off and eat while I watered. I think I over watered and under weeded/ maintained. I also planted waaaaaay too much in such a small space.

This year, we made a few changes. First, I did not get pregnant again. Praise you, Lord. Second, I didn't start vegetables from seed. I just bought the vegetables that were already started at Lowe's. Our house is already overrun with baby gear and between taking care of a baby and taking care of a baby, I couldn't quite stomach the idea of raising up the seedlings again. It takes up a lot of time and a lot of space. Third, we were much more conservative in what we decided to plant. Instead of planting 12 tomato plants (I'm not kidding), we planted 5. We planted 4 different types of peppers and one zucchini, squash, and cucumber plant each. It's much more manageable and I've already grown way more in about a month and a half than I did in a full season.

This post is more for me to remember next year, but I always like seeing what normal sorts of things people do with their time and gardening is one of my things. Also, I wanted my parents to be able to see how well things have been growing since they were here the last time!

My cucumber plant (brown scraggly thing in front) has officially bit the dust. I'm not sure what happened. Everything else is doing so well!



My tomato plants. I have five different kinds-- grape, cherry, Roma, Mr. Stripey, and just a regular large tomato.

My first ripened vegetables of the year! Some grape tomatoes and a sweet banana pepper. I actually haven't the slightest idea what I'm going to use the banana pepper for. Any suggestions?

This is our main flower bed in front of our house. I love red and yellow flowers, so marigolds and geraniums seemed the best way to go. Huge props to my parents for helping us with our flowers every year!

Hydrangeas are my favorite flower! They were my wedding flower. These came from my aunt's house and they are getting huge. They are so beautiful!!

The little pots that I planted that sit on our porch stairs.



We got these daisies from my parent's next door neighbor last year. They were really small last summer and now they are enormous! They are so sweet. I love daisies; they really are the friendliest flower. You've Got Mail, anyone?

And finally, a picture of our sweet little house. I love the way it looks in all the seasons, but especially in the summer when everything is green and the flowers are colorful. This part of being a homeowner sure is fun!

Educating Myself

Lately, I feel like America has really latched onto the discussion of food. I believe it to be a very timely discussion since it is my opinion that much of our preventable illnesses in America can be helped with a better diet. Now, please don't think that if you're sick that I believe it's because of your diet. I know far better than that. I was a very sick little girl and still continue to have health problems to this day that I know have nothing to do with what I eat. However, I think there are some things that can be prevented if we eat correctly.

Two of my favorite bloggers who actually happen to be two of my lovely in-real-life friends have been tackling this issue in recent weeks. Lindsey and Hayley both have been talking about the different ways that they are looking at and considering this American "food crisis", if you will. I just love these two and I'm so looking forward to the day when we can all go for lunch and just talk. Maybe next time you're in Indy, Hayley! I'm so willing to make the drive so we can all meet up! :)

I absolutely loved Food, Inc. and I have these books on hold at the library so that I can continue my food education. If you've read any of them (or have read any that apply and that I don't have on here), I'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions.

       

  

Michael Pollan was a large part of Food, Inc. I am really looking forward to hearing his written perspective.

My sweet friend Libby got this for me for my birthday last year. I am really looking forward to diving into it as soon as my work load slows down a bit. Hayley and my aunt also recommended it, so I know it's got to be good. I also think that the book cover is very eye catching. If I remember correctly, it's about eating food that is grown locally. I am so looking forward to visiting some local farmer's markets this summer and finding one that I really love! I think I have quite a few friends in the area that I could convince to come along with me on this search.

Another recommendation from Lindsey. I have to admit though, every time I look at the cover I think of Cher from Clueless. Ha!

I am planning on starting a vegetable garden as well as doing some landscaping around the house this spring. I think this will help in our vegetable rich diet-- both in price and quality! I definitely feel like a dummy when it comes to this since I have never done any sort of gardening. Again, if you are a gardener and have any good suggestions for books or resources, I'd be most grateful!

Well, there you have it. Just some of my thoughts and some books that I plan to read on the topic. I am finding that I enjoy being educated about something before I really jump into it wholeheartedly. Ha, who would have thought?