Refreshed, Reconnected, and Dirty

Vacation officially started on February 19, but it looks like my blog vacation started earlier. The goal for my first extended run of vacation time was to dig dig dig in the dirt. Goal very well met, as mother and I convened to tidy up debris in the beds, amend some soil, plant some new plants, and admire our work. I would not have accomplished as much without the help of my mother and her husband, who pressure-washed the house and driveway, picked up my son from daycare and offered miscellaneous support.

Throughout all, I have had to negotiate the investment, since we are in a rental. How much am I willing to leave in the ground? What do I want in containers? I'm excited about being able to eat what I grow, and in addition to the cherry tomato, radish, carrot and parsley seedlings we now have some spinach and strawberries. Other seeds started include eggplant (2 heirloom varieties), squash (crookneck), 2 heirloom cucs, basil, and beets.

The front yard now sports a new potato vine, coleus, Myers asparagus fern, vinca, Scotch moss between the stepping stones, and rosemary transplanted from a backyard container. We also have two pots greeting visitors by the door, one containing a small lavender, the other waiting for the hostas to be out later in the spring (plan is for 2 varieties of hosta and a campanula).

The countdown is on before back to work, but I can say that even with all the labor I am very well rested and have a great head start on spring.