In Search of My Green Thumb

[Moonrush]

I love green, growing, lush things.  They make my heart sing and my face smile!

Unfortunately, even the healthiest green, lush things seem to suffer from my attentions.  I have one house plant that has been teetering on the edge of death for six years, now.  No better, and possibly a little bit worse than when I first received it as a cutting from my Great Grandmother, it hangs on desperately, bravely, even.

I exaggerate some (but not much!).  True, indoor plants do not seem to last long under my ministrations, but I have had some luck with outdoor gardening.  I'll admit that having lived in the Phoenix area for my entire adult life has made it especially hard for a gardening-challenged person such as myself to grow much of anything outdoors.  It is a desert, and an unforgiving one at that.  I have used that very legitimate excuse for the last two decades.  I have planted maybe a handful of things outdoors with any success.  1 bougainvillea, one watermelon, 3 sunflowers, and... yeah, that's about it. 

Last year, almost to the day, my family and I moved to Western Colorado.  As it turns out, things actually grow here without an inordinate amount of luck.  I talked to my neighbors, and they would speak of things like "just throwing the seeds in the ground" and waiting to see what would happen.  I'm ahead of myself.  My neighbors would also speak of such things as digging in the ground... without a backhoe and a 10 HP tiller!  I tried it -  you can put the point of a spade in the ground, push down on it, and it will go into the earth!  No, really!

Anyhow, bolstered by my neighbors' tales of gardening success, I decided to try my hand once again and growing a garden.  Last time I tried this, in Arizona, I was left with one stunted little watermelon... out of about 10 different types of seeds that I had planted.  I'm, determined to get at least one salad out of this garden.  Just one salad of lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers would make me happier than I can imagine.  Hell, who am I kidding, I'll take a salad of nothing but lettuce!

So, here are some photos of my preparations.  I'll try to post an update journal from time to time, as the garden progresses - whether it progresses as a productive, green garden or an outdoor litter box for the neighborhood cats is yet to be seen.  But, update I will.

THIS IS THE GARDEN BED THAT MY HUSBAND BUILT FOR ME YESTERDAY!  IT'S NOT FINISHED YET (EVEN A NOVICE LIKE ME KNOWS THAT THE WALLS HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY DOWN THE GROUND), BUT BY MOTHER'S DAY, I'VE BEEN PROMISED A RAISED GARDEN BED THAT I CAN TEST MY BROWN/GREEN THUMB IN!

THESE ARE THE SEEDLINGS THAT I'VE STARTED INSIDE.  I'VE BEEN ADVISED BY MY NEIGHBORS THAT PLACING THEM OUTSIDE DURING THE DAY ("HARDENING" THEY CALL IT) WILL HELP TO ENSURE A BETTER TRANSFER INTO THE GARDEN.  THIS TABLE CONTAINS LETTUCE, BRUSSELS SPROUTS, STRAWBERRIES, GREEN BEANS AND SPINACH.

NOT MUCH GOING ON IN THESE CUPS AS YET, BUT I'M NOT GIVING UP HOPE!  THESE WILL (HOPEFULLY) BECOME CARROTS, TOMATOES, PUMPKINS, AND CUCUMBERS.  A FEW OF THOSE CUPS HAVE FLOWER SEEDS IN THEM, BUT THEY'RE MORE INCIDENTAL!

THAT IS MY EENSY-WEENSY LIL' COMPOST PILE.  I'M NOT SURE IF I'M DOIN' IT RIGHT, BUT I GUESS THAT SOMETIMES THE ONLY WAY TO LEARN IS TO JUST GIVE IT A TRY.

THAT SLIGHTLY INVISIBLE BUSH THERE IS A FORSYTHIA.  I HAD A STROKE OF PARENTING GENIUS A FEW WEEKS BACK.  MY KIDS AND THEIR FRIENDS WERE COMPLAINING OF BOREDOM, SO I TOLD THEM TO GO DIG A BIG HOLE FOR ME.  THEY DID SUCH A GOOD JOB, THAT I DECIDED TO FILL THAT HOLE WITH SOMETHING!  (THE KIDS HAVE ALL SINCE ASKED ME IF I WANT THEM TO DIG ANOTHER HOLE FOR ME.  WELL... YEAH!)

HERE'S ALL THE KIDS DIGGIN' ME A HOLE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO (SCORE: ONE FOR MOM!)

HERE'S A SHOT OF THE BACKYARD BEFORE ANYTHING HAS GROWN.  WHEN I UPDATE Y'ALL ON HOW THE QUEST FOR MY GREEN THUMB IS PROGRESSING, I'LL TAKE THE PHOTOS FROM THIS SPOT, SO YOU CAN ALL JUDGE WHETHER OR NOT I'M SUCCESSFUL.  IF NOTHING CHANGES FROM THIS PERSPECTIVE, I CAN'T PROMISE THAT I WON'T JUST TAKE A PICTURE OF A STORE-BOUGHT SALAD AND CALL IT A DAY!

[ivansmom07]

Apr. 20, 2009 at 8:50 PM

Go Mandy!!!

I want to try my hand (thumb) at gardening too.  Our backyard is completely empty right now. 

Once your yards produces...produce, you must walk me through the process!

[JoyeAustin]

Apr. 20, 2009 at 9:14 PM

That's awesome, Mandy! You know I support that salad growing urge you've got! Great pictures.

Your husband rocks for building that raised bed for you.

[sapient]

Apr. 21, 2009 at 12:53 AM

Good job so far Mandy! I would LOVE to grow things, but living plants tend to die around me too. Maybe I have bad jo-jo or something.

That garden is going to be great! I can't wait to watch it. Make sure to pimp this when you update

[MemaSu]

Apr. 21, 2009 at 2:08 PM

One tip- don't transplant carrots, or most other root veggies. You seed them straight into the ground with a very shallow cover. Good luck! Well done by hubby to build your raised bed!

[Moonrush]

Apr. 21, 2009 at 5:49 PM

Su...

oops!  I already started the carrot seeds in those cups.  I guess I'll just have to cross my fingers and hope they survive the big move!  I can always go pick up a packet of carrot seeds for less than a buck, if it comes to that.

Thanks for the advice!

(Original Poster)