mothers day gardening

my mothers day was great!  it was a double-fun weekend with sophia’s first birthday and mother’s day – packed with family in town and sports activities.

my dad and sister kensi came into town on friday night – the usual movie/pizza night followed by sophia’s first cupcake (loved it!).

(sugar crash!)

a big reason of why i requested my dad come this weekend was to get my GARDEN PLANTED!  a big bonus to me of this rental house is that it had a pre-established area for a garden, and the owners have had great luck in planting in the past.  growing up, we had a HUGE garden (think about an acre?) and canned, froze, and ate everything under the sun.  obviously, i did not appreciate it at the time, but looking back on all of the hard work that my parents put out in order for my brother and i to eat fresh, healthy, home-grown food – IT WAS AWESOME!

So…Saturday morning, Daddi-O and i ran to the HD to get all the plants and seed.  it was a fun trip, and really nice to spend some one-on-one time with him; times like that are few and far between and i had a great time.  then, home for Pappaw to see jack play both soccer and t-ball, snuggle with Emma, and it was planting time!

it was a pretty chilly, windy day, but we got the area tilled (my first time – it was super fun!) and planted by 5:30. 

We planted: 

• tomatoes – super 100 cherry, yellow cherry, roma, beefsteak, and big boy
• peppers – yellow, green, and red bell, banana, and jalapeño
• brussels sprouts (so excited to show the kids how these grow)
• watermelon
• cantaloupe
• zucchini
• yellow squash
• radish
• bibb lettuce
• spinach
• 2 types of cucumber
• broccoli (obviously!)
• cauliflower
• strawberries
• herbs – mint, basil, and parsley

Here are the fruits of our labor:

and now i think i am obsessed.  i have been checking on my little green babies several times a day – just looking at how they are doing, watering them if they are drooping (it has been hot here), and waiting for harvest day!  jack and i are starting a bi-weekly log to record their growth, maturity, take pictures, etc., and he wants to take it to kindergarten when he starts in the fall.  his job is to keep it weeded and fill me in on the water situation.  a great little summer project.

friends – look forward to all the tomatoes you can eat and homemade salsa!  :-)

Then on Sunday, i leisurely slept in until 9:15 and took a shower ALONE and IN SILENCE while my dad and scott finished up the garden and started on my flower pots.  we went to brunch at the kids favorite local diner – Glen Oak, and then Pappaw and Aunt Kitten headed back to Indy.

Grandma and Pop came just as they were leaving to celebrate the day, finish my deck pots, play for Sophia’s birthday, and just be together.  Scott and his Dad made a great steak/potato dinner on the grill, and i was gifted a car wash kit – what every suburban girl needs!  (actually, that is what i requested – NERD ALERT – but it does entertain the kids for hours washing the cars…)

All in all, a perfect Mom’s day with my favorite people. 

Expect SEVERAL more garden updates in the next few months – and wish us luck.  i think i will be devastated if for some reason these plants don’t make it!