Most of you know that I have no garden. We live in a canal community not far from the Pacific Ocean and our land is mostly house and a few landscaped garden beds. and decking. more decking than anyone needs, I’m sure. We could entertain 75 people or more without being crowded if they stayed outside.
As you can see, we’re “A” and there’s not a lot of dirt. That’s the Google map photo so the big deck on the waterside of the pool isn’t there in that photo. Also the house to the right isn’t there any more either… the new owners knocked that down and built a new two story house. They don’t have space for a garden either. I know the canal looks tiny but our pontoon out back is 50′ long so it’s all about perspective.
Our location means that gardening for me is in pots. Small pots, big pots and even some bags. My tomatoes are nearly ready to transplant into big bags. I’m going to take one upstairs to the patio off our bathroom – yes, I know, isn’t that stupid? There’s a long railing and I’m going to grow the tomatoes laterally along the supports. That’s my idea anyway. John just rolled his eyes. Then he said, “How will you get it all up there?”
“You’ll carry it for me, right?” I asked.
“It will cost you,” he said.
So for the time being all my tomato plants are sitting in the sun growing nice roots.
My herb garden has oregano, sage, basil, coriander/cilantro, curly parsley, flat-leaf parsley, mint, lemongrass, Thai basil, chives, dill, garlic chives, thyme, a few pots of chillies and I think that’s it. Oh and a pot of violets. Just because.
Disregard all the dirt on the pavers, okay? My gardening assistant (92) has a tough time getting up and down and I haven’t had time to get it scrubbed. He also had a bit of an issue with the coriander and flat leafed parsley.
Yes, if you look closely all three of those pots have two plants in them. One is coriander and one is parsley – in each pot. He said he’s repot them but I think it’s kind of fun to go out in the dark at night with a pair of scissors and guess. He’s too cute for words sometimes.
He asked if I wanted some dill planted because he found a packet of seeds. Need some? I think we’ll have enough dill to supply the entire community soon. My sweet father-in-law definitely has a very green thumb and he loves pottering around with plants.
I also have a nifty worm farm. Two actually. I followed Lizzie Moult’s excellent instructions for a worm farm and she said to buy 2000 worms. I bought 1200 and you know what those little buggers did? Yes! They had sex. I had big balls of worms doing the dirty in the dirt and realized I had enough baby worms to start a new box.
I went back to the veggie store and paid $2 each for two styrofoam broccoli boxes and now we have two farms. The first box is doing well and my new box is resting and will be fed for the first time tomorrow. Their castings and “tea” should give me big tomatoes. That’s the plan, anyway.
Just so you know that I’m kind to my second best friend, Charlie and he did have a hair appointment today. He’s a totally refurbished dog. Why second best friend? John left me a comment on my previous post inquiring why he wasn’t my best friend. Uh oh. Charlie got demoted.
Barely no more slippers. He hates getting his feet done and doesn’t like his paws touched much at all. He was dark chocolate brown as a puppy and at nearly 4 years old he’s turning gray. That’s what life around here will do to you.
The Garden Share Collective is the brainchild of Lizzie Moult from Strayed From the Table. Every month keen gardeners are sharing photographs of their garden. I’m having lunch with Lizzie on Thursday and taking a tour of her garden, having a chat with her chooks and then eating some of her fantastic food. I figured I’d better do a garden share post and not get scolded.
Visit the Garden Share Collective and follow the links to the other gardens. Unlike me, they have dirt and spiffy things growing. Also, consider joining in and posting photos of your garden. Seriously, if I can post about gardening, anyone can. 