abby's garden

Spring has arrived here in the Northwest. Whenever I'm in a new place (or at least this was true in San Diego) it takes me a number of years to really appreciate the different seasons…. even notice them! This fourth spring here in Washington, the flowering trees of the Northwest have completely won my affection. There are so many of them and they are all so BEAUTIFUL!! 

Because of the very cool springs, gardening has been a bit more of a challenge for me here. I'm never ready to get out and work in my wet, cold backyard when your suppose to. It doesn't get much sun in the winter, and because of that it in early spring it still always seems so dark. I guess you could say I'm not a true gardener at heart, willing rain or shine to get dirty with the ground. The past two springs, my kids have taken over, not willing to let the planting tradition which I started in San Diego die. Last year, Ellie and Abby worked and got a little garden planted for me on Mother's day!

This year… Abby took it upon herself to work the ground since Ellie is so consumed with her high school work load and driver's ed these days. Last week we had some incredible WARM days, I mean like almost up to 80!! (Pretty unheard of here in the spring!!) Abby got out back and proved that she was serious about planting by weeding and getting the garden bed ready. A few days later, the Pastor took her to get some plants, which she affectionately called her babies. How I loved watching her take ownership of this project, making her own decisions about what she wanted and where she wanted to plant the little beauties. 

She planted a number of pretty flowers, some bush peas, trailing beans and a bell pepper plant. I purchased the basil plant from Trader Jo's, and think I just need to purchase another one or two. There is nothing more rewarding to me than making a meal from scratch and running out to my back yard for fresh-grown herbs. Like I said…. I don't think I'm a garden at heart, but perhaps rather a"romantic gardener." The notion of growing my own food appeals to me more than the actual work. ha. 

Thank you Abby for YOUR hard work, for adding beauty to our back yard, and joy to your Mama's heart!!