It's Gardening Time!

One of the classes I transcribe for is a horticulture class. The students spend most of their time planning out a garden with vegetables, fruits, flowers, etc. Well, since I didn't have any typing to do during that time, I wanted to plan out MY OWN garden. And I actually have a yard now!!

I have had a garden since I was the ripe old age of five. My dad, the ex-farmer that he was, liked to have gardens everywhere we lived, and I think that must have rubbed off on me. I don't remember if it was his idea, or if I just drove him crazy enough, but one day he leased out a spot of his vegetable bed to me and my sister.

I planted alyssum, red potatoes, and gladiolas. And I still remember what I planted in my very first garden, over twenty years ago. I can't remember the day to day details of my life, or where I put my car keys, or to take my computer charger to work with me (that was an awful moment), but manohman do I have a memory for plants.

I loved my garden. The alyssum was my favorite I think because it smelled sweet, but I loved the glads and the potato too. Then the worst thing happened. My dad dug. up. my. potato. He thought it was a weed. And I still frikkin' remember this. But, I have a lot of respect for him because he told me about it. If I had dug up little James' most precious plant, I probably would have blamed the cats.

Anyway, that first garden was enough to get me hooked. As we moved to house after house, I would wait for my dad to establish his garden turf, and then either share or pick my own little spot. Having little regard for vegetables, I mostly grew flowers or strawberries.

You know how teenage girls quite often spend all their money on clothes or make-up, etc? Well, I blew all my cash on plants. And I would wheedle plants out of my mother. Then, when I realized that you can't grow things in winter, I started an indoor plant collection. At one time, I had a Boston fern that reached from the ceiling to the floor.

I guess it's no wonder I eventually received a degree in horticulture, but it took me about 5 years of college to come to that conclusion.

Anyway back to the present. I grew a few things last year in my yard. The nasturtiums looked spectacular until the aphids got to them, and my cherry tomatoes were prolifically out of this world. THIS YEAR I am being a bit more organized. I have improved my soil, learned how much sun I have, and pretty much killed all the grass from neglect.

I am ready to plant some veggies.

After dreaming for years of having my own space for a whole growing season, I have a pretty good idea of what I want. I don't want to grow anything I can get at the grocery store for cheap. I want purple, red, and yellow carrots. I want swiss chard. And I think I will also experiment with artichokes and sweet potatoes. Oh yes, and of course lots and lots of basil and tomatoes.

I may grow some strawberries in my strawberry pot. I also need to design my shady backporch space.

I have also become a very cheap gardener. Part of that is money constraints, part of that is the challenge. I learned in one of my classes in school that you can buy a grocery store sweet potato, cut it up into small pieces and grow several plants. I so have to try that. I will also have to try growing my own ginger and horseradish from grocery store plants.

I am a strong believer in taking cuttings and root starts from other people's plants and growing my own. Whether they know what I did or not. I could go on and on about all the things I want to do in my yard the size of a postage stamp. Compost, Thai basil, ferns, hostas, etc. but I think I can see my blog follower's eyes beginning to glaze over. Not everyone gets as excited about compost as I do.

I will keep this blog updated though on my successes and not so successes throughout the gardening season. Happy Gardening!