How does your garden grow?

“Mary, Mary quite contrary…how does your garden grow?”

I must say this phrase has 2 completely different meanings to me. As a child, it was a sweet nursery rhyme that I knew. As an adult, it runs through my head as I type about planting some seeds to grow veggies for my family. Interesting what time will do. I am going to post a Facebook question about whether or not you dabble in the dirt growing fruits and veggies for yourself and/or families.  I can’t wait to hear the responses. What a fun way to incorporate your kids in growing fruits and veggies—they learn what the produce looks like in it’s natural state, where food comes from, and how to collect & cook it. Vital skills they will need later on in life to make good food choices.

So, what did I plant? Well, this year it was really fun for me because I had some things leftover from last year’s Mother’s Day gift from my hubs and the kidlings…seeds. Yes, they spoiled me with the perfect gifts. I received a disposable Jiffy greenhouse that has 72 peat moss pellets for starting your seeds, pink gardening gloves, and organic seeds {my man knows what I like!}. So, this year I was able to use some leftover seeds again: organic corn, organic carrots, basil, rosemary, organic cucumber, organic broccoli and added to them the lavender, winter squash, and Sweet Baby watermelon seeds he bought this year {with another Jiffy greenhouse}. I had also purchased a thyme plant at the store that I repotted and some cilantro, basil, and rosemary that I planted in my rectangular terra cotta pot in front of the house. This year, Chris also purchased a Topsy Turvy tomato plant…that grows cherry and full-size tomatoes hanging from a pot. The cherry grow from the top and the full-size from the bottom…how fun will that be?! The advantage to growing tomatoes, in particular, in a hanging pot…you can do completely organic garden very easily because the bugs {tomato hornworms in particular} can’t reach the plants. You can also buy strawberries in this type of pot…we are planning on that. Here are some photos:

Here’s my lil’ greenhouse…planted about 15 minutes ago. It sits on my doorstep for easy access.

  My Topsy Turvy tomato seedlings…you can see the seeds on the tips of the plants

Here is the long, terra cotta planter {I like using natural, clay pots rather than plastic along with organic soil}

And…close-up {some baby plants are already popping up! Exciting!}

Doesn’t the thyme look cute on the doorstep?

I think it looks very inviting to have fresh herbs growing in pots on your doorstep. They are pretty to look at, away from our dog’s

                                    domain in the backyard, , and I have easy access to them for watering or gathering them for cooking. {Phoebe is my foreman}

I will keep you updated on the progress of my little seedlings. I have always had a nurturing spirit…whether it’s people, plants, or animals…I love caring for something living and watching it thrive and grow.