2012-2013 Veggie Garden, Post-Op

As previously mentioned in my posts, I have no expectation of anything I plant, "fix" "prune" or touch in the garden, or in my yard, for that matter, actually surviving or (gasp!) thriving.

Not only am I an inconsistent and sporadically passionately gardener (and blogger), there are many things out of my control that effect the outcome of my garden. Weather, soil, sunlight (I'm in Seattle), slugs and other pests, disease and mold, children, wild animals, domesticated animals, semi-domesticated animals (chickens), irrigation and summer vacation all play an important part.

Spring & Summer of 2013 was a huge step forward for my personal fulfillment in the garden. 

• Plant hop rhizomes 
• Installed a fountain in the now-mature herb garden 
  
• Enjoy the lavender garden, which didn't completely choke
  
• My roses have been producing 
  
• My chickens are all laying and my coop protected the ladies through the winter (there was a bobcat!)
  
• I was able to have two, nice, beefy raised garden beds installed. 

Just add organic soil.

• I built window boxes with my dad (#1 DAD!)
• I also paid my irrigation guys to retrofit my old sprinkler system to spray these two, new beds. 
• Lastly, I bought a single cattle fence panel, clipped off the poky ends and bent it to form an arch. We were able to install it between the beds to make a nice, high arch which now supports pumpkins!!!!

Even if nothing bloomed in the beds, I'd still be winning.

Window boxes for spring starts.

It's amazing to watch these huge, orange pumpkins support their own weight on their vines. We have about 6 pumokins hanging from or sitting on the arch. It's fun to walk under and through. All summer long, we had nice, big snap peas and now, tomorrow is September, the tomatoes have been exploding for a month. I don't even know what to do with all my tomatoes!! They're sweet and small and they make great bruschetta.

Due to my love of pumpkins, I planted a lot. They took over my potager. With their broad leaves shading the direct-sow basil, garlic, onions, carrots, pickling cucumbers and leeks, I haven't gotten much else out of the garden. Somehow , I planted a ton of radishes and while they went bonkers, they took up a lot of space and they are disgusting. I tried them over and over throughout the summer and they never got any better. Next year, no radishes.

We had friends over and one pointed out my beets. "Your beets are ready. You should pull them before they get too big." I have beets? Huh. Turns out I bought a "salad mix" seed packet and the beets actually grew. Who knew?

Another total WIN, my ginormous sunflowers. I don't know how they got so tall, but they're about 12 feet! They make me happy. So yellow and flowry. I don't know what to do with them except love them.

I put some corn in. It grew to about 4 feet tall max. I think it had to compete with the sunflowers and pumpkins too much. Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised in October?

I'm thinking about next year... plotting my garden. I'd like to turn a corner of my "landscaped" yard into an orchard. 

I'm a kid on Christmas at the moment, because the new deck is being installed. It's doubled in size, has manufactured wood (no maintenance!!) and will have a metal railing (again, no maintenance.) 

My back yard is where I can put all my crazy energy. It's fun and it teaches my kids a lot about food, hard work and how sometimes working looks a lot like playing.