Beginning garden
My first garden was in the backyard of our first home in Upstate New York. I was so excited to have a garden and flower beds to grow tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, cucumbers, and flowers. In my first garden plots, I would start my plants from seed. Later I started only the flowers from seed and would buy the vegetable plants from a nursery. I planted in neat rows, with the recommended spacing between plants and rows. Gardening was new to me, so I started simple. Since that first garden in the early 1980s, I have tended a garden every year.
Raised Garden Beds
A few years ago Kirk made me three raised garden beds. Tending to a large garden had become too much backbreaking work. Keeping the weeds under control was a full-time job, and I had other interests I wanted to explore too. I’ve loved having raised garden beds – they are game-changers! Gardening has been easier with the raised beds. However, I’ve become a little bored with the garden over the last few years. It wasn’t pretty or inspiring and I knew I could make some improvements that would rekindle my love of gardening. This year I wanted to try a fresh approach.
New Garden Ideas
In early spring I purchased this book: Kitchen Garden Revival: A modern guide to creating a stylish, small-scale, low-maintenance, edible garden. This book is full of plans, photos, and ideas. This book inspired me to try a different and new approach to a kitchen garden.
Creative planting
Instead of row after row of tomato and pepper plants plunked in perfectly spaced rows, with the tomatoes in one bed, peppers in another, and a bed of lined-up herbs, my goal was to be more free-form. Spring arrived and I was ready to load up with more plants than usual in the beds. I also tried some new seeds, and added flowers and obelisks, to add interest.
Hog Fence Trellis
Kirk and I moved the hog fence arches that had spanned two raised beds to gain more space in two raised beds. Now the trellis starts in a raised bed and arches to the ground. Moving the trellis gave us more space to grow beans and carrots in the bed, and now the pumpkins, zucchini, and pickling cucumbers can climb it. Pippa, our two-year-old grand-daughter, loves playing under the arch and pretending it is her house. She will love playing under the trellis even more when the pumpkins are dangling down from the trellis tops and the cucumbers and zucchini are peeking through the bars.
Starting Garden from Seeds
Feeling brave and inspired, I planted seeds. Lots of seeds. We’ve got beans, carrots, swiss chard, lettuce, arugula, pumpkins, squash, herbs, onions, shallots, pickling cucumbers, nasturtium, marigolds, lavender, and more. Even if it’s too late to plant — potatoes will be added too! Within a week they were all popping up with vigor.
Growing Zinnias
In a 17′ x 8′ plot, near the three raised garden beds, I have a dedicated area for cutting flowers. Every year I add a few new perennials to my collection and I always plant a plethora of zinnia seeds. You can read how I seed zinnias HERE. I’ve always loved zinnias which is why they have been a part of my garden landscapes for over 40 years.
I’m so excited to see how the garden looks in a month or so!
