creating a garden

The idea of gardening has always appealed to me, it's always been something I'd like to get more into. But aside from a few crocuses and tulips that I planted sort of haphazardly when I first bought this house in 2003 (I actually planted more that first fall than what has since come up; I just think I didn't do a very good job planting the bulbs deep enough down into the ground), it's remained a nice idea.

Now finally, I'm getting deep and dirty into it.

I think as a mama, creating a garden, nurturing growth, is becoming more in tune with me. I no longer crave being a free bird twittering around; I want the sanctuary of a home with healthy roots.

This weekend I finally got a former flower bed next to our porch, on the south side of our house, cleaned up from a messy layer of wood chips and twigs, old tarp, grass and moss. Then I borrowed the gardening tools of our good neighbors to dig up the hard packed earth.

I'm so proud of my achievements; though it's not a very big lot. Unfortunately, because of the shade from a huge walnut tree, I don't think I can grow tomatoes here. I might have to (ask Leighton help me) build a case garden for the tomato plants and place it on the narrow stretch of lawn between our patio and neighbors on the north side of our house. This area seems to be the sunniest spot in our yard and the tulips I planted there several years ago, still come up every year. Perhaps one day I can make a rose garden here.

Enjoying ourselves on our patio after a full fun weekend of yard work and play.