Garden update (mostly flowers though)

What’s that? You want to hear more about my garden? Well, I’m humbled. Especially since I am a single, childless, soon-to-be spinster, and I don’t have a baby I can brag about. Nay, I have many babies.

But my babies are the kind that require only minimal daily care. And I really mean daily. There are no nocturnal feedings or diaper changing, or crying. Plus? I get to eat them!

Did I take that analogy too far? Hmm. I do that sometimes.

Back a couple weeks ago, a few short days after moving into my new house, I had to decide whether to rent a tiller and dig up my garden or pay an able-bodied young do-gooder to come and do it for me.

I’ll give you one guess which route I went. Need a hint? The able-bodied (and cute, but also engaged…damn) do-gooder quoted me $50. Done and deal.

He tilled up my new 10 x 20 ft garden in less than an hour. It only took me slightly longer than that to plant my babies.

And I have a lot of babies. Babies that I planted in neat little rows.

Unfortunately, even though I hardened my babies off for several days before transplanting them, not all of them survived. The cucumbers, especially, were hard hit. Out of the 12 or so that I planted, I think I have 2 left.

Which is totally sucky since those are the easiest to save over the winter. Helllloooooo lotsa pickles!

I’m still going to have zucchini, yellow squash, and pattypan coming out my ears (and nose and eyes and other….areas) though. I never would have guessed this, but the hubbard squash are doing the best right now, which? Is. Awesome.

I also planted some seeds in the back corner – more radishes, lettuces, and chard. And I threw in a few extra green beans too, because well….I had extra seeds and hellllooooo dilly beans!

There are actually two different kinds of green beans planted. Traditional (ie boring) green beans and some striped variety that look very prehistoric (ie cool).

The stupid Wisconsin weather is really messing with the garden though. The last couple nights have been in the 40s and the tomatoes and bell peppers are not really happy about that. Looks like I’ll be making a trip to get some seedlings to beef up my harvest. Tomatoes and cukes at the very least.

But the gardeing doesn’t end there, kids. Far from it.

In the last week, I have spent no less than 3 hours every day outside working on my yard. (I sound like such a homeowner don’t I? Cool.)

I’ve been out there weeding. For hours. Every day. Weed, weed, weed.

Weed some more. Weed some more. Think you’re done? Not even close.

It’s pretty satisfying work though. Especially since I remembered to take some before pictures….

Because the comparison really shows the amount of work involved. And before I started, I knew I was in for some work, but really? I had NO IDEA.

Whoa.

[I really hope you all read "whoa" in the Joey voice from the 80s tv show Blossom. If you didn't, please go back and try again. Thanks.]

Two things should jump out at you here. 1. There are rocks that make it look all pretty and 2. I got bored of weeding and stopped rather abruptly.

The funny thing is that I put off starting weeding for a really long time because I don’t know what the hell I am doing. I was all worried about accidentally “weeding” flowers.

I am 99.9% positive that I weeded a TON of flowers.

The only rule (if you can call it that) that I used while weeding was what I am calling the “If it doesn’t look like what it is next to, yank whichever one is uglier” rule.

But it looks a lot better. And since these pictures represent a mere 1/4 of the gardens that are in my yard (and unfortunately the extent of my weeding so far), I am not too worried. I’m guessing there are some repeats in these flower beds.

I’ve also discovered that I hate gardening gloves.

Sure, my fingers are cut up (damn raspberry bushes come out of nowhere, I’m telling you), I think I may be allergic to poppies, and the dirt under my fingernails may never come off, but the gloves? SUCK.

Multiply this bag times four, and that’s what I’ve weeded. So far. Told you I still have a lot of work to do.

Oh and the weather gods apparently hate me because it is supposed to rain and thunderstorm for the next three days. Good thing I’ve got a whole list of inside projects that needs attending to also.

Or I could go into work.

Nah.

Anyone want to help me weed? I pay in cookies. And crafts. You pick the flavor or the craft.

I know. I need to think of a better bribe.