My New Happy: How Does(n't) Your Garden Grow?

Friday, August 7, 2015

How Does(n't) Your Garden Grow?


Linking up with the Style Me Bloggers today to share how our gardens grow. Or in my case, do not.

For many years, we have had a nice vegetable garden.  Our first home was on five acres, so there was plenty of room for a large one.  C loved to jump right in and "help".  Not sure our neighbors were thrilled with our drop and run squash deliveries, but what else are you supposed to do with all of them?



When we moved to our current home, the space was much smaller, but every year we have planted zucchini, corn, beans, onions, potatoes, and apparently giant beets.



T especially loved working in the garden, tilling the dirt, harvesting the veggies, and even pulling weeds.  Digging up potatoes was always fun - kind of like an Easter egg hunt.

This year, however, was a dismal failure.  In early June we managed to get the ground roto-tilled and ready to plant.  And then we didn't actually plant anything.  I think my trips to New York and Texas may have had something to do with it - I wasn't home to rally the minions. And since the minions are now teenagers, they definitely need rallying.  In any case, our once beautiful garden currently looks like this.  



Hmm....weeds up to my shoulders, kiwi vines all over the place (yes, we can grow kiwi here), and not a single squash to gift to my neighbors.  Sad, sad, sad.

Next spring, we'll do better.  In fact, to make up for this year, I have informed my husband that I think our garden should look something like this.



He just stared at me like I was crazy, which I'm used to at this point.  Rally the minions!

Be sure to check out the other Style Me Bloggers, who I'm sure have much prettier gardens to share today.

31 comments:

  1. Every spring I say I'm going to plant but it never happens and it's been a few years. Your inspiration garden photo looks amazing! I'd love to have that in my back yard!

    Jill
    Doused In Pink

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    1. I know, isn't it pretty? I love the little walkways around the gardens.

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  2. My garden (though much much smaller! Think sandbox) also failed this year. A garden needs tending...and I wasn't there for mine.

    That ideal garden is spectacular!

    bisous
    Suzanne

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  3. Holy crap. Can you come make me a garden that looks like that too? Lol. Will pay in booze!

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    1. Yep, I will send over the minions as soon as I'm done with them. They can bring me back the booze.

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  4. I just LOL at this because I read Dee's first. You are so much more talented than I ever could be with a green thumb! Can't wait to see what it looks like next year ;)

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    1. Uh oh - now I better make sure we get something planted :)!

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  5. kiwi vine!!!????? Does it grow Kiwis???? We grew ginormous beets this year too..it was nuts!

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    Replies
    1. Yep - tons of them. So far they've been kind of small but they're getting bigger each year. They need to take a lesson from the beets.

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  6. You guys have been too busy traveling to farm this summer. Maybe invest in a couple of farm hands for next summer. Love the story of your drop and run squash.

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    Replies
    1. I agree - hopefully next summer will be better!

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  7. I want that garden too! Which is why I don't garden because it never looks like that!

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  8. I love your play on words in the title!

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  9. I totally said I was going to do a veggie garden this year... didn't happen
    I love your dream garden though, I wish I could be that organized!

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  10. I think I'd love a squash and run delivery. We had so many strawberries this year that we had to freeze a bunch, bake with a bunch, eat a bunch, give a bunch away, and we still couldn't keep up. I can't wait until next year.
    Now it's like that with kale but it's not as easy to get rid of kale. Who knew?

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    Replies
    1. Kale - yucch. I will trade you some strawberries for squash though :)!

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  11. It's the oddest thing. On my early morning dog walk with a pal last summer we'd always look at this amazing kiwi vine. It was growing on a trellis over a driveway and was just bursting with kiwis. This year the vine is still there but NO kiwis. Any idea why? The rest of the garden is flourishing. My brother is very proud of his garden up the coast. When they lived in Calgary his wife was the self-appointed gardner however he has now taken it on. She told me the other day that it is out of control. 40 tomato plants, 8 different kinds of squash and endless beans. for the two of them. They could feed the town. We're heading up next week so I'll be able to see it first hand... Should be interesting.

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    1. I think gardening in the Pacific NW is just hit or miss, honestly. We never know what we're going to get!

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  12. I've talked about a garden but I think It'll have to wait until I retire. It would be awesome to grow my own vegetables ♡

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    1. It is wonderful to go out and harvest fresh veggies for dinner every night!

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  13. Those beets are huge!! Are they still good when they get that big? Our garden is sub par this year. We had a ton of rain in June and I think it ruined the growing season. Better luck next year! Susan

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    1. It doesn't sound like anyone had a very successful garden this year Susan! I think the beets were kind of woody when they got that big.

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  14. I love that rally the minions! I may have to borrow that around here. I swear the same thing happened to us this year. I planted 2 tomato plants (ok hubby only planted 2 tomato plants) this summer. The heat was just to much so I don't feel bad because all of our neighbors gardens sucked so at least we didn't waste the money! I love that photo of the garden that's what I want container gardens like that. I'm thinking of using those aluminum cattle watering tubs (we used to swim in them as kids). I'd like to have about 4 of them. The dirt here is really sandy and I don't think good for growing much besides peaches and I can't stand them. By next garden season I will be back home in KY in real dirt! I'm finally letting that cat out of the bag!

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    1. I really like the idea of the container gardens too - they seem much easier to maintain. Yay for moving to KY!

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  15. I was so excited by how well my garden started off this year - tomatoes were way ahead of any other year. Not sure if it was the lack of water when our well was being repaired, the extremes of temperatures, or neglect - but everything quit producing blossoms. Tomatoes are ripening now - but looks like they will be the only ones I get this year.
    Love the photos - and the giant beets!

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    Replies
    1. I'm impressed that you have any tomatoes. We have the worst time growing them here.

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  16. Most compost bins sport a sliding door at the bottom where it churns out new compost soil. Just don't try to place on your backyard patio. Green garden waste bags

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