My son, Benjamin, really knows how to get my blood boiling.
The other day we were sitting out on the back deck enjoying the warm sun and fresh air when he turned to me and said, “You know, your garden doesn’t look very good this year. Before there were lots more flowers and vegetables.”
To which I replied…
“What?!?!?! It’s only May! Not even Martha Stewart can make tomatoes produce in May.”
Wisteria blooms over the garden gate. By summer’s end, the sweet autumn clematis will have reached up from the other side.
Still, he did have a point. I have been a bit slow to get things rolling here this spring. My attentions have been torn between work, house, cooking, animal husbandry, writing and a great deal of time exercising on the spinning bike, classes and my home yoga practice.
Thankfully, many flowers, herbs and fruits return on their own. I’ve added bedding plants from the nursery. But I still have a stock tank pond and some more vegetables and flowers to attend to.
The herb garden includes flowers–columbine for spring color and celosia once June arrives and to the end of the growing season.
Most of that will have to wait until after the Garden Bloggers Spring Fling that comes up next weekend in Chicago. I will work in new bed digging and some woods clearing between other business trips I have planned this summer.
Jubilee strawberries produce all summer long. A single bed is enough to keep us in strawberry shortcake and to eat for breakfast with Greek yogurt.
I am also making time to just sit still and appreciate what I’ve been given. I hope with all the busy-ness of gardening, you also have a beautiful place to sit and enjoy what you’ve created.
Wisteria also grows along the fence at the back of the garden. If you look closely, you can see a couple of asparagus stalks that have persisted even after tearing out the asparagus bed.
Hi! I'm Robin Ripley author of Wisdom for Home Preservers, published by Taunton Press. I am also co-author of Grocery Gardening. Bumblebee is about my life in rural Maryland, my garden and my love of food, my little dogs and pet chickens. You can follow me on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook. Thank you for visiting!
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I don’t have any annuals in the ground around here yet. I figure I will do that when I return from the SF. I know lots of people are feeling the same pressures and doing less in their garden this spring. Of course record rains have put a damper on working in the garden some this spring as well. Some years are just like that. I think Martha would be happy with your garden as it is. At least as happy as Martha can be. tee hee… Happy Spring.
Your garden is exquisite! Even if it is early in the season.
Wow, your raised bed frames are works of art. I have raised bed envy now!
B is crazy. Your yard has WAY more going on than mine! It looks great.
Say hello to Phooka + crew for me.
It looks pretty darn good to me Robin. I can’t wait to see you my friend.~~Dee
Robin – wow! I need to see your previous gardens, then, because this one is fabulous. I really want to grow some Wisteria on my fence but I was always afraid the fence wouldn’t be strong enough to support it.
And I agree with Katie – I’ve got raised bed envy, too.
I’d love to walk through that garden gate and smell the wisteria. SIGH. I agree that beautiful places to sit and drink in the beauty you’ve created are a must!
See you soon!
What an amazing garden you have! This makes me want to put in a strawberry bed next year, and the raised beds are so neat looking.
Your wisteria is gorgeous! My beans were all “harvested” by rabbits, but I have salvaged a few tomato plants. I think your garden is gorgeous, despite what your son says. I particularly like that you noted the importance of just sitting and enjoying it.
Your gardens look wonderful. I too was later than usual getting my seeds in the ground. It was just too wet!
Sherry
Thank you for reminding me to take time to appreciate all I have been given. I do, but it is good to be reminded.
And the garden looks beautiful.
I think your raised beds look great. You’re right about taking time to enjoy it. So right…
Your gardens look really great and that was a month ago. I am sure your son is just remembering last year at the end of the season. That gate with the wisteria is so beautiful!
Your garden is amazing !! absolutely fabulous !! It really looks like heaven !! I hope my wisteria will grow like yours !!
.-= Matsouille´s last blog ..Ménage de printemps dans le jardin =-.