We're Expecting!

Hope I didn't give y'all heart attacks, but perhaps I should have stated that a bit more clearly.

I'm referring to our garden.

As in we're expecting quite a garden this summer! (Sorry, mom.)



Yes, we finally got the garden fully planted and wonder of wonders, things are beginning to grow!

I've hesitated to say much about it before now, because last year's attempt at gardening in the desert didn't produce a single, edible thing. We learned a bit too late in the season we just weren't watering our garden enough.

Yeah, it turns out that plants need enough water to grow. Duh!

A thorough soaking every morning might be fine in Western Washington where I grew up, in the arid desert climes of the American Southwest, twice or three-times-a-day soakings are a necessity. It gets hot here.



So far, the squash, pumpkins, beans, cantaloupes and corn are all coming along nicely.

Judah excitedly dragged me outside to show me that we've even got dahlias about to bloom. Woot! Woot!



I think someone else in the 'hood has been after the pesky ground squirrels besides just us, because they have disappeared completely.

The squirrels I used to see sunning themselves atop our neighbors block wall? Gone. Every single kernel of corn that was planted? Knee-high stalks! And I couldn't be happier.

Providing things grow well this summer, we may also add a few more raised beds for next year's garden. We'd like a tomato/pepper bed, a berry bed and a salad greens/cilantro bed. Oh, and one for root veggies and green onions.

Did I mention that we've already harvested some lettuce?



This was the first one. We made P.F. Chang style chicken lettuce wraps with it. Yummo.

So far, so good...and a very satisfying endeavor for the whole family.