Getting ready!

The time has arrived! (and this year I am actually looking forward to it) Time to get going with the spring cleanup in the yard & garden, and get ready for veggies and flowers.
We inherited a big 'ol cottage style perennial garden with our house, that someone had put alot of time/money/love into. But it had been neglected for a couple of years, and then when we moved in, we were a bit overwhelmed by it. Then we had Clara, and we neglected it for a couple of summers. SO, this year, we are ready to make it our own.
We're going for a "potager" or a kitchen garden, with veggies, flowers and herbs. We set up a little shelf in our basement with grow lights and we're starting all sorts of veggies & herbs from seed.
We're going to keep some of the perennial beds, but I'd like to take out one, and make it an annual cutting bed, with zinnias and snapdragons, etc. Here are just some pics of the past few days...preparing, playing, etc. And a couple of random shots from the week.

Tree Peony buds...this will be beautiful really soon!

Trusty gardening boots!

Here it is...bare on April 5th. Just finished raking everything out. Still alot more to do. We'll plant some peas tomorrow. Soon some of these beds will be packed with perennials, and it will be a jungle. It always starts growing so, so fast, and before you know it, you're overwhelmed and can't seem to pull weeds fast enough!

Clara's wee rake next to mine... 

She seems to prefer mine :)

collecting

little bunnies in a pot

and some non-garden related pictures:


Clara and Jay and a ukelele

   
Oh, and a cookie. I tell you, I may have a baking addiction. Do I need an intervention?? It's ok, raking burns mega calories. And I just invested in some workout dvd's...ha!

Comments

[Allison Fouse]

Oooooohhhh. Aaaaaahhhh. Look at all of that gardening space! You are so lucky. I am excited for you & look forward to seeing the yummy rewards you reap. =)

[Nancy Cook]

wow
tree peony's...must remember to purchase some
so exciting this gardening
we are moving in a week and a half.
can't wait to get started.
oh, that cookie is just staring at me...
oh, and that ukelele shot is so adorable
i've always wanted a ukelele

[Crystal]

You have a fantastic gardening space! Can't wait to see your peony in bloom! Love those plants. You little girls sweater and shoes are darling. :)

[mo]

I love the promise of your big empty garden. I also love a nicely planted garden that pops up with all the anticipated lovelies that you seem to forget about from the year before. But this year the new dog and his trench digging ways have made me have to refocus into loving the promise of my newly empty garden. I just found your blog and your little felted critters are just delightful.

[heidi]

Jenn, I noticed your blog when reading Martha Stewart's....I just love it! Your simple entries of your home, family & garden are just lovely. And after seeing the adorable tiny creatures you make...I may need to try my hand at it! Thanks for such inspiration!

[Stacey]

Wow...you are so much more organized than me! So far, all I've done is decide to plant all blue flowers. LOL

[Linda]

oh gardening is so much fun and so rewarding.. i am sure you will have loads of fun and great native vegees from it too which always taste better.. we were out raking these weekend ourselves and had the boys bag it up..just got the front yard done and have to move to the back now. I started some things last year like lavendar and salvia and some others and can't wait to see how well they do this year. Good luck with the garden! Hugs, Linda

[Caroline Inckle]

Wow what a veggie patch!
I started digging mine today after much procrastinating, it wasn't as difficult as I imagined. It's also been a couple of years since we had a veg patch so we are really looking forward to it.
Good luck with yours.
Caroline
X

[Alissa]

Hello - I am sorry to sound so pushy and impatient but . . . when are you going to post again? I want an update on the garden, book sales, baking, and your daughter! I live in the Hudson Valley so I sorta feel like we are neighbors. Our house was built in 1895 and was, was famous for it's gardens. Now I spend the summer slashing and burning to keep it all in check so that the surroundings don't grow up and over the house! Post soon, okay?!

[Missy]

I saw you book all over Maker Faire this last weekend :) It is soooo cute! I'm totally gonna buy it I just have a few other things I need catch up on, and I'm busy buying supplies for some classes and such! I did want to stop by tho and say congrats!!! You were in some very good company :)

[karen]

Oh I can wait for summer produce...especially summer tomatoes! Cutie patootie baby. Come for a visit.
Karen