Garden Update

So here’s what my garden looked like when I planted it on April 1:

And here it is a mere five weeks later:

So take note: raised beds make ALL the difference! I wish I hadn’t wasted so many years struggling with our heavy clay soil, when all I needed was a soaker hose, some old planks, and a few truckloads of Pro Mix.

Most of the tomato plants flowered weeks ago (Better Boy was the first), and tiny tomatoes are already growing! My pepper plants are also loaded with flowers. The squash and cucumbers haven’t done much yet, but they’re hot-weather plants anyway. (Not that it hasn’t been hot – it was in the 90s on Sunday.) If this is any indication of the harvest to come, I need to learn how to can for real!

I also planted some Moon and Stars watermelon seeds last weekend. As you can see in the first photo, they’ve already sprouted and are almost ready to thin out! This is my first time growing watermelons, so I’m excited that they’re doing so well.

I planted this gardenia bush two years ago, the same week my ex left me. Despite my best efforts (including digging it up and re-planting with better drainage), it’s never blossomed. But a few days ago, I opened the blinds and saw two beautiful gardenias, with more emerging! I’m taking it as a good omen. When I mentioned this on my non-public blog, a friend said it reminded her of Valancy’s rosebush in one of my all-time favorite books, The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery*. So now I feel even more hopeful about it. I’M READY TO BLOOM.

* = You can read it online for free here!