Nice Tomatoes!

We're conducting an experiment: just how much water can two measly tomato plants drink? We're not measuring precisely, but these puppies are drinking 4 gallons a day. Each day. They're draining our rain barrels! There was a cool, overcast day recently where they took in only 3 gallons.

We used a cool tomato success kit from Gardener's Supply and I bought two Bonnie Original tomato plants. That was barely two months ago, and they're now about 5 ft high. No lie!

There are four tiny tomatoes, and tons of blossoms. These two little plants will be very productive!

Always wanted a Lilac...

Gramma had a lilac bush next to the garage. It's been my dream to have that peaceful smell in my own home. Today we planted my first lilac, and I just about cried!

Getting the circle of bricks laid out was not simple-we had to re-level the whole circle after it was done. The grade made it a test of patience. What was really scary was was the dry red chunks they call "dirt" around here. This development was created by earth-movers that piled the dirt and sculpted the hill after razing the trees. Dan tried to dig the hole deep so we could work in good dirt. I hope this lilac has some very determined roots!

Finished the vegetable garden!

The vegetable garden has a wall, dirt, and plants. I call that a garden. Leveling the bottom row of bricks was a big pain in the butt, but I'm the patient type. Dan was great with packing the dirt, and paver sand.

It's so cool to have my first real vegetable garden ever. Mom had a great one growing up. She was into stir-fry in the 80's, and would tell us to "go pick dinner." We had some odd dinners, and she would occasionally veto our choices.

I love growing my own food, teaching my step-kids that food comes from dirt, and someday teaching my own kids to tend a small spot of land.