Today’s #AtoZchallenge post is about my glorious garden. Before I discovered the joys of digging in the dirt, Fall was my favorite season. Now I get pretty excited each Spring. 🙂
Anyone who hangs out with me on Facebook has seen that I purchased a ton of plants to put in, but my garden was too crowded with 3-4 high arugula and Brussels Sprout plants to fit it all in. (p.s. All my British pals, arugula is what you’d call “rocket.”)
There’s 3-4 plants in each of those containers!
So, I gave a few plants away and then I started moving the tall ones around. Rather than bore you with the deets, I just video’d the finished product for you.
Three hours after grabbing my shovel and hauling dirt, the ground looked like a war zone of broken plant matter.
Yes, I always garden barefoot (unless there’s big, creepy bugs involved).
And the garden looks like this:
I can’t wait to see what it looks like in a few months!
Are you a gardener? What are your favorite things to plant? Have you had any success with potatoes?? (If you watch the video, you’ll see that I haven’t.) Enquiring minds LOVE to know these things here at More Cowbell!
Jenny
WINNER: I was supposed to announce this Saturday but I was too bowled over by Mark Travis’ writing genius. Dawn Stricklen won the Week 1 More Cowbell prize.
(Week 1 Prize: The bumper sticker that says “I’ve got a fever, and the only prescription is More Cowbell!) LOL. I’ll be picking another winner from this week’s commenters so join the fray. 🙂
Jenny Hansen's Blog 
How long has it been since I visited More Cowbell? Too long! Too freaking long!
I thought it was get-the-house-ready-to list, fight-with-the-pack-rat-over-what-is-NOT-essential, ratty jeans and white cotton panty days that made me cranky. Au contraire! It was the lack of MORE COWBELL!
It’s done. [Pause for happy dance.]
The stealth packing while he’s gone? Done! The treasures whisked off to Goodwill during golf time? Done!
I LOVED hearing your voice, but could not see the video. Since potatoes are a food group on their own, if ever Mini Winnie and I make it to Idaho, we will bring some dirt for those little darlings.
pickmepickmepickmepickmepickme <==== subliminal messaging for More Cowbell playtime with the bell. Does she have a name yet? Does she like hats? Would she like to take line-dancing classes? See? I have so much learn about her.
Has her bell ever been rung by a Ft. Worth Cowboy? Just sayin'….
pickmepickmepickmepickmepickme….
LikeLike
Oh my God!! You got all the crapola snuck out??! I’m so impressed with you. That sounded like a massive amount of work. Did you know that you and Laura Drake have twins for husbands by the way? She’ll need your tips as she’ll be starting her own covert operation soon.
Congrats on selling your house!
I’m delighted that you’ve missed More Cowbell because we have certainly missed you! Welcome back and please, please, please don’t stay away so long. There’s been nary a blogjack in sight with you Natalie AND Zack out of commission. 🙂
LikeLike
Not S.O.L.D. yet, Jenny. Listed. But, we’re in a delightful position of low inventory and a seller’s market this go ’round.
The whines and moans and outright bitchin’ when the stager went through the house. I made not-so-dear hubby sit outside. I ignored him. That which I could not ignore was done behind his back. Sample chat:
Him: I am NOT cleaning out the closet behind the bar.
Me: I know you aren’t.
Bubble: Because I’m going to do it when you’re gone.
Yes, do tell Laura to check in with me. I have tons of creatively sneaky advice.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What fun to see your fabulous garden, and hear your voice! From now on, I’ll read your posts with your voice in my head. 🙂 Also, I’m a wee bit envious, because it will be months before the garden begins to look like yours. Fresh lettuce, broccoli, chard, figs? Salivating! 😀 I’m a budding gardener, but my parents are avid gardeners. They typically grow three or four types of potatoes, and end up with a decent harvest. I’ll have to ask them how they tend them.
LikeLike
I like hearing people’s voices too, Ellen! And yes, the figs are hugely fun. We make all kinds of dishes with them and also give them to a friend who makes fig preserves.
I’m so excited to maybe get the secret of the potatoes!! We love them and have never, ever been able to grow them… I’m going to order them from Pleasant Valley farms next fall and see if theirs will do better.
LikeLike
I’m not big on gardening, even though I love to look at gardens, but somehow I have become the tamer of the Don Juan climbing roses. Throughout the summer, I can be found out in the front of the house, garden shears and twine in hand. The trick with climbing roses is to keep them growing in the direction you want them to – not behind the trellis or towards their neighboring bush or out into the driveway. When I come inside after one of these battles I’m so scratched, pierced and bloody, it appears as if Don Juan might have won, but so far, I have prevailed. .
LikeLike
WOW! Not everyone can claim to be a Don Juan tamer, Jane. 🙂
I love roses, and they are a scratchy crazy mess when you have climbers. Truly, I’m impressed. I leave a lot of the flowers for the gardener so I can focus on food. LOL.
LikeLike
Loved getting a tour of your garden. I should try doing the same one day.
I’ve grown potatoes, but they’re tricky. Surprisingly, they like a lot of compost, and a lot of water. Best grown in the ground in my experience.
Rinelle Grey
LikeLike
Thanks, Rinelle! I’ve tried potatoes in the ground, but I don’t think I gave them enough water. Hmmmmm. I’ll make them work some day, but so far, I’m 0 for 3. 😦
LikeLike
Hi, Jenny! LOVE your garden. Can you see from your vantage point in Cal-EE-for-NEE-ah how GREEN I am with jealousy?? You guys are sooo lucky to have such fab gardening weather. My babies are still indoors – cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, moonflower, morning glory. I’ll be starting cilantro this week. The hardy daylilies and raspberry shrub outside and going strong, though, and the lettuce can finally go out to play…yay!
On the bright side, spring IS coming to the east coast. It was nice enough to grill steaks on the outside BBQ yesterday, and hubby and I had cocktails and played a couple of boardgames, too (here’s his post about it, if you’re interested: http://paulowengames.blogspot.com/2013/04/signs-of-spring-first-backyard.html).
Very impressive garden, darling! You’re rockin’ the veggie world! 😀
~Kathy
LikeLike
We are lucky to have great weather. We pay for it in taxes, but still…
I am SO impressed that you do the work to start your plants from seed. If we ever move inland, I’ll be doing that myself and it seems like loads of work. Now I’m off to look at your honey’s post! He’s the bomb hubby. 🙂
LikeLike
I love to garden and totally know what you mean about the war zone, lol. My Cucumbers and zucchini usually grow up and over my short garden fence. We’re going to build them something a little taller this year. I discovered last year that I have a blueberry bush, so cool, but it doesn’t have a friend. I’ll have to get him one this year. I’ll also have a bunch of tomatoes, large and grape size, peas and beans, raspberries, basil, chives, thyme, oregano, rosemary and catnip. No potatoes yet, can’t help you there. We aren’t even to seed planting time here up in cold MI. I have another month at least. You have a lovely garden, Jenny.
LikeLike
Thanks, Sidney! Your blueberry bush definitely needs a friend! Mine didn’t really take off until I got her one. 🙂
I’m still trying to figure out what I’m going to use to grow those blackberries on. They need to twine and vine, and I need to be able to walk all the way around them to pick berries! I’m giggling over your catnip, FYI…you’re going to have a happy little kitty.
LikeLike
Oh yes, I am. He loooves it 🙂
LikeLike
What a great garden! I’m jealous, we still have multiple feet of snow on the ground and it was snowing again yesterday. I’m chomping at the bit to get out there and build a raised garden bed.
LikeLike
Well, you could build the bed in your garage and do what Kathy does above and start the seeds inside. But, you’re right, it is MUCH easier to do all this when you get to start planting for real so early in the season.
LikeLike
Unfortunately I’m waiting for the snow to be gone so I can empty out my garage, not enough room in there to swing a cat never mind build a bed! 🙂
LikeLike
Ooo, LOVE your garden, Jenny! SO impressive!!! I’ve gotta get my booty in gear and work on mine. That was one of the selling points to our new house–the plant bed in the front yard and the large veggie garden-type pots in the backyard that the previous owner left behind. I’ve always wanted to grow my own tomatoes, cucumbers and okra. I’m also looking forward to planting some gerber daisies. 😀
LikeLike
You know, I’ve always wanted to grow okra too, and I never think to order it online. The nurseries here don’t really carry it, I don’t think. You’ve gotta live in the South for that to be a staple. Still, that’s a nifty thing for me to look into next year. Thanks for the idea, Melinda!
LikeLike
I’m in awe. I absolutely do not garden. I have grown green beans, tomatoes, and radishes before, but I had help. On my own, I tend to neglect the poor plants. We do have a loquat tree that delivers yummy fruit each spring/summer. We don’t have to do anything for it, though. It just blossoms and produces fruit on its own. Thanks for sharing your green-thumb garden!
LikeLike
LOL…sounds like me and houseplants.
I’ve gotten into gardening now that I have more space and my father-in-law’s rockstar soil. He really worked it while he was alive and we’re reaping the benefits. 🙂
LikeLike
They are expecting Boulder to get a foot of snow tonight! It will be a while before I am getting my hands dirty again… one of my favorite things!
Love this! I will live vicariously through you for a while…
LikeLike
Gah! What is it with this late winter in so much of our land. My relatives in Missouri said all was mild until March this year! Wacky weather for the middle of the country right now. You are welcome to share in my garden until you get yours. 🙂
LikeLike
I am not a gardener, but this spring has made me wish I was. It was so gorgeous out this morning. On the upside, the hubs IS a gardener and he grabbed some flowers this weekend, so my view onto our patio is spirit-lifting. 🙂
LikeLike
Oh, that’s wonderful, Pauline! I’m medium on flowers but huge on veggies. I love knowing that we are the makers of our own food. 🙂
May you write many notes and dream many dreams looking over at Hubby’s flowers!!
LikeLike
lovely. looking forward to spring, too. happy a-z blogging! (i’m here: life as a journey )y
LikeLike
Thanks, Dorothee! And wonderful that you linked to your own #AtoZ journey. 🙂
LikeLike
You are a prolific gardener. Two quickies: !) My father grew tomato and basil together so as the tomatoes late in the season would have some flavor. He also fertilized with fish heads, not recommended. 2) A girlfriend hit the greenhouses early and got plants. She put them out on the sunporch for about a month. The thrived and bore fruit earlier than the neighbors.
LikeLike
Ooooooh, great tips, Tom! I planted the basil and tomatoes closer together this year, but I think I’ll move them all next to each other, based on this advice and see what happens. And FISH HEADS? Um, no. I just can’t do it. We compost and fertilize, and that’s just as good as it’s gonna get. 🙂
LikeLike
When I was a little girl, I’d fish off the end of our dock–my mom would fry one for me for dinner and bury the other (or more sometimes) in her garden. A beautiful flower garden. Wouldn’t want fishy carrots!
LikeLike
Looks like all you need is a bigger yard. Good luck with the growing stuff!
I am not a gardner, but my mother used to grow some damn fine potatoes. Not sure what she did, but every year we got a bussel full.
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
LikeLike
Geeze my older siblings are showing me up in the garden department. I have got to get my pa-tookus in gear. I love to garden, L-O-V-E it! Getting my hands dirty is as therapeutic as running and well…other stuff, if you know what I mean…
I’m going to get myself a couple yards of good ol’ steer manure and some chicken poo to turn my new garden beds into something More Cowbell worthy!
LikeLike
Since I’ve been blessed as a direct recipient of Miss Green Thumb’s, aka Jenny’s lushous garden, I can attest to her superb earthen growing talents. I am still in awe of that fig salad. Yummy! I can only aspire to have a garden like yours girlfriend. I dream of fresh, organic ciliantro, basil, radishes, cucumber, lettuce, tomato, carrots. And I just found an amazing way to grow them on my patio. So super cool since ya know I reside in a condo. Yes, glorious things are growing in SoCal Jenny! Enjoy! 🙂
LikeLike
I enjoy a beautiful garden. But prefer for someone else to do the work.
LikeLike
I love it! Awesome job. You know I’m a gardener, so I can fully appreciate three hours of digging and turning and planting and watering… We plant year round and as many different plants as possible, but our Texas scorchers put a damper on the tomato harvest every summer. I think winter broccoli, spinach, and kare are my favorites. In the summer, cantaloup, tomato, and cucumbers win. Have fun!
LikeLike
Pingback: Do You Celebrate Grandparents? | Jenny Hansen's Blog