… watermelon!
See it? Over there, on the right?
It’s about 4 inches long. So cool! Like all proud moms, I’ll keep you updated on its progress. There are two more of them, but they’re not as big yet. One is only about as long as my little finger.
Squash update!
I’ve picked about a dozen so far and there are at least that many more on the vine. I just love squash.
Gardening is such a joy. If you haven’t given it a try then you’re just missing out on a rewarding experience.
This is my garden. It is very small.
Oh heck, who am I kidding, it’s tiny! But, it’s all mine and I like it.
Actually, I have another flower bed on the opposite side of the patio, next to my townhouse, that had Impatiens in it. But, the gutters are stopped up and I’m having a bit of trouble getting the condo board to send someone over to clean them out.
I keep getting the run-around about hail damage insurance claims and not enough units need their gutters cleaned out to make it worth it to hire someone to clean mine. In the meantime, my little flower bed of Impatiens that, in May, looked like this, →
now looks like this. ↓
So sad. (Yes, I know my landscape lighting needs an update. In time, folks, In time.) Anyhoo, back to my gardening epistle.
I grew up on a farm where gardening was a requirement. I hated it! There really aren’t words for how much I hated working in a garden back then.
In all fairness, let’s put that in context. I was 10 through 17 years old, stuck out in the middle of nowhere with a quarter-acre garden and only my mom, my brother, and my sister and I to manage it. Do you have any idea what a quarter-acre garden looks like? It’s huge and way too much work for one grown up and three kids.
What were they (my parents) thinking? Okay, so my father would plow it in the spring, but then, it was up to us to plant and weed, and hoe, and water, and hoe some more. Exhausting work and for what? Okra? Lima beans? Spinach? Yuck. It was all food that I mostly couldn’t stand to eat back then. (Yep, I was an idiot but I still don’t like spinach, if it’s cooked. There’s a whole other story about me and spinach but let’s save that for another time.)
The point …
Gardening is an acquired taste. Not everyone likes to spend time digging in the dirt but, for those of us who do, it is a very rewarding experience.
A few more pics of my tiny garden …
Until next time, happy summer everybody!
Psst, one of these days, I’ll learn how to crop pictures evenly, but don’t hold your breath waiting for me to get around to it. 🙂
Good Old Girl 
Nice garden! I’d love to grow watermelons, they are so delicious.
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It really doesn’t take a lot of room, even though the vine can get pretty long. So far, mine has stretched out about 10 feet. Some branches of it, though, are shorter.
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Your garden looks wonderful. I too have a vegetable garden. I am swimming in cucumbers and basil. The lettuce is done but the tomatoes are just starting to come in. It seems I have to share with some chipmunks who just take one bite. If I catch them, they will get an earful!
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LOL. Luckily, only have to deal with a neighbor’s cat and a squirrel or two. Something, though, has helped itself to a couple of baby squash. I only have the one squash plant and one watermelon vine but plan to add a pole bean and maybe a couple of okra next summer. Oh, and a pumpkin, too.
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Oh, I was just talking with an acquaintance yesterday about the pleasures of eating a homegrown watermelon! What a lovely surprise in my reader feed to find your story about your beautiful small garden!
My grandparents kept a victory garden for years. They grew wonderful watermelon. I don’t garden, although I aspire to beginner’s level gardening. Thanks for the inspiration!
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I know what you mean. I can’t wait for that watermelon to get big and ripe!
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Ooooh! I think the beginning of the season and the end of the season watermelons taste the best! Are you going to do a follow-up story when it/they ripen/s?
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Absolutely! I’m just goofy enough to take weekly pictures too.
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I was gonna ask if you might consider doing that (*laughs*)— but I was too shy! I think people would find it cool (me, included!)— watermelons don’t grow everywhere, right?
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I think they’ll grow pretty much anywhere any other vegetable or fruit will grow but because of their long growing season, they may be easier to grow in the south. If you’re in the northern part of the country, then you might want to choose early varieties and use transplants.
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I’m in S. Texas. The question around here is whether the soil is sandy enough— I’d have to check w/ my local ag. dept. folks, yeah?
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It’s always a good idea to have your soil tested so you know what kinds of fertilizer will benefit your soil the most. Also, you could plant in a container of potting mix and let the vine trail outside the pot.
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That’s true! I find container planting as confounding as the regular kind. I’m going to have to get my soil tested, I think. And then I need someone to explain it to me very slowly, writing all of the big words down. (I really don’t understand gardening.)
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I use Miracle Grow potting mix in containers and mic Miracle Grow garden soil in with the dirt in my flower beds. About once a month, during growing season, I water with liquid Miracle Grow fertilizer. Works like a charm! 🙂
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That’s it? I mean, that’s a lot, but… that’s it? Three different formulations of Miracle Grow and water?
I’m beginning to feel emboldened, thanks to you! Just for kicks— what’s the difference between Miracle Grow potting soil and Miracle Grow garden soil?
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Yep, that’s it. I had my soil tested about 8 years ago but can;t remember what the results were. I don’t like complicated things so started using their potting mix and then the liquid fertilizer and finally the garden soil. I don;t know what’s in that stuff but it sure works.
I think the potting mix is a bit lighter in weight and is designed to retain moisture better. It works great in containers. The garden soil seems a smidge heavier and richer and mixes well with dirt.
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Okay, that makes sense. I keep checking gardening books out from the library, the dumber the better, and I don’t understand a word I am reading.
It just now occurred to me that I am probably just going to have to try and fail and try again until some of this starts to make sense to me. (What you’ve said makes sense, though!)
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The only other advice I can give you is to watch the pant labels for what works in full sun versus what needs shade or partial shade. Happy gardening!
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I learned that mistake the hard way after killing the most beautiful lavender plant you ever saw. Hard lesson!
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Don’t feel too bad, I’ve lost more than my fair share of lovely plants just through my own stupidity. 🙂
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When I got said beautiful plant, I called my grandmother and read out the instructions to her and had her explain them to me.
Then, I followed the directions, which I kept on the fridge, for months. The lavender plant died. I was told that I loved that plant to death— overwatering, too much sun— the whole schlemiel.
But, if you, who grew up growing things, say that this happens, well— I truly do feel better! : )
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I enjoy the fruits of your labour…keep ’em coming!
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LOL!
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It is really a great and useful piece of info. I am satisfied that you just shared this helpful info with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
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That looks like a wonderful garden. Congratulations on your new arrival, she’ll be delicious. That is one strange sentence.
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LOL! I’m thinking I might need a blue crib. 😉
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wow … looking good
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Thanks. It’s sort of a mess right now. But lots of fun anyway.
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🙂
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You have a beautiful garden! I wish mine was as abundant and colorful 🙂
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I expect that if it was any bigger, I wouldn’t be able to keep up with it. Thanks for stopping by.
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Watching a garden grow is good for the soul.
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Yes, mam!
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