Plants Are Little Miracles

I firmly believe that everyone would like to witness a miracle. Most people don't really think that this is a possibility for the average person. I however, believe that is as simple as planting something, waiting and watching. Witnessing the miracle of life doesn't require owning a pet or having a child, just a seed of your choosing.

Take one seed, add a little dirt, sprinkle with water, allow it a bit of sunlight (and in some cases you don't even need all of these things, but that is another post entirely) and what do you get? Life! A small sprout of green that pokes out of the ground and the first time you see it you get so excited you jump up and down at what you have done! It is as simple as that to witness a miracle!

Once that sprout starts to grow however, things do get just a little bit more difficult, but only slightly. But we will talk about that soon!

For now lets just marvel and what can be done with a seed. I got my seeds this year from Urban Farmer Seeds & Plants



Many of my seeds that have germinated did so well before the date range listed, including one enormous and aptly named "Little Marvel" Pea!

Although I am still waiting for some to germinate, my opinion is that plants have a mind of their own and they come up when they are good and ready to come up! All but about five varieties of plants have germinated and the rest I am sure are on their way. 

This all happened a lot quicker than I anticipated. I am now going to have to re-pot my seedlings soon so they can start growing big and strong and developing strong roots before they go outside to harden and then to be planted outdoors for the season. Judging by the winter we have had I am expecting an early spring and therefore an early outdoor planting season, which for my super spouts is a good thing since I will soon be running out of room in my mini indoor greenhouse. Just a reminder to my readers, I am very much a beginner at this so as I learn, you will all learn with me!

If you haven't stated planting yet, now is great time to start indoors!

Happy Gardening!

Ambition is a good thing right?!?

My seedlings! My husband and I started planting for this years garden on Monday and were pleasantly surprised to find sprouts as early as the next Thursday! Here is just a quick picture. More to come as they grow and are easier to photograph.
We are growing A LOT this year and I am realizing that I got a little carried away but it's all in the name of gardening, right?!?

So here is the full list of what we planted or are planting:

Park's Whopper Tomato
Park's Razzelberry Tomato
Sun Sugar Cherry Tomato
San Marzano Tomato
Roma Tomato
Sweetie Cherry Tomato
Lemon Boy Tomato
Brandywine Tomato
California Wonder Pepper
Merlot Pepper
Anaheim Chili Pepper
Sweet Pickle Pepper
Early Jalepeno Pepper
Karma Pepper
Golden Summer Pepper
Scarlet Nantes Carrot
Park's Whopper Eggplant
Nebuka Evergreen Bunching Onion
Sweet Walla Walla Onion
Large American Flag Leek
Calabrese Broccoli
Utah Celery
Muncher Cucumber
Pickling Cucumber
Round Zucchini
Sugar Baby Watermelon
Small Sugar Pumkin
Little Marvel Peas
Sugar Ann Peas
Provider Beans
Garden Leaf Lettuce
Mesclun
Rainbow Chard
Bloomsdale Spinach
Red Russian Kale
Blue Scotch Kale
Arugula
Cilantro
Italian Basil
Dill
Lavender
Italian Parsley
Catnip
Oregano
Thyme
Sage
Chives
Peppermint
Spearmint
Early Garlic
Red Potatoes
Fingerling Potatoes

Welcome to My Adventure!

This is the first of many posts about the crazy world of urban gardening, but first an introduction.

To start, I was born to be outside! My passion for the outdoors and all things living started before I could even put it into words. My earliest memories are of playing in the dirt, whether it was in the garden with my Mother or in the forest on some magic adventure. I lived and breathed nature as a child (I was the kid with frogs and bugs in every pocket, running around bare footed with dandelions and pink ribbons in my hair) and transformed that enthusiasm into a wonderful career as an Environmental Educator, teaching people of all ages about the wonders of nature. I suppose this blog is a natural progression, melding my love for nature and gardening with the aspects of teaching which I have recently learned that I am good at (if I do say so myself). As I am a Naturalist, I will probably not be able to help myself, but to post some random nature pics once in a while, but I hope you all find them interesting and as entertaining as I do. This blog is by no means meant to be the end all and be all of gardening. Instead, it will be a collection of stories and photos from my own gardening experiences both the good, the bad, and the strange and ugly! I encourage my readers to share their thoughts and experiences with me as I will with you. I hope to share with you all that I learn and more!

Happy Gardening!

~Rose