Wrap up for the season

So, the summary of this summer's experiments: Success! Considering we didn't plant until mid-July, when most gardens are supposed to be knee-high already, we got tall sunflowers, basketball-sized pumpkins (but green ones), we came really close to getting mature heads of corn, the lettuce is flourishing, we have a bag full of green cherry tomatoes we're hoping will ripen, the broccoli, carrots and parsnips are growing. We learned a lot ... like sunlight is a must. I'm going to have to find shade plants for under the trees, because crops get a good start, and then kind of lose their steam in the shade of our trees -- especially with this year's rather cool weather. My flower beds were a TOTAL success -- and now I know not to plant beet and onion starts in one clump.

So, many lessons learned. I'm looking forward to harvesting some root crops and lettuce throughout the winter, and can't wait to get a fresh, less stupid start one "take 2" this spring ...

Gardening 102 ... progress at last!

I've been a bad, bad blog updater this past month. But somewhere in between birthdays and weddings and deaths, we actually got some stuff done. Unfortunately for those of you reading this blog, I have not yet taken the time to figure out how to link photos to this blog. And I know it's not hard, I just haven't tried yet. Someday ...

But on to the advances in my yard arena ...

I HAVE A RAISED GARDEN BED IN THE BACK CORNER OF MY YARD. And yes, I was yelling just there. A dream I pontificated about months ago has become a reality, if perhaps a bit later than I'd hoped. Prodded by our fairy gardenmother and her ability to find lots of free things and give us kind hints, she prodded my darling husband into constructing a fence around said back corner with the plan of a raised bed and dumping in lots of soil. Fence is up, poles stuck in concrete, and chainlink surrounds -- except where the gate is, but I don't expect perfection. At least not yet. A bit after the Fourth I called in to TAGRO for a giant load of potting soil, which was dumped into said area ... and after I hauled buckets and buckets and buckets of the stuff around the rest of my yard to flower beds in the front, side and back yards to use as cover -- after sweating and sweating and sweating in the hot, hot, hot days of summer -- well, then we planted. We planted VERY late, in the heat of summer, and then it rained ... hard ... for the following week. And then got hot again. If there was any hope for us getting anything out of these seedlings, this was it. After one week, things had popped out of the ground. After two and three weeks, we had some hearty plants back there ... and the tomato and melon starts are flowering nicely ... and they all just keep getting bigger. I'd had the seeds for months if not years, so if no "fruit" (we planted corn, sunflowers, pumpkins, carrots and a couple other things) pops up, I'll consider it training for next year. In the meantime, I'm enjoying the view. That corner had sat fallow for the entire five years we'd lived her, other than weeds and brambles, and not it's a garden.

THINGS I'VE LEARNED THIS GARDENING SEASON (so far):

• I've learned that when you buy onion and beet seedlings at the store, that you're supposed to SEPARATE them when you plant them. Not plant what you were given in a big clump. Oops. Lesson learned. Which is the point of my this year's gardening. So my failure is still a success. So there!
• If you're going to plant herbs, plant ones you use a lot or don't bother, because if you don't pick them a lot they go to flower and apparently aren't as good. At least that was our cilantro. ;(
• You need to keep on top of spinach, too.
• Kids who won't eat fresh greens just might eat them out of the garden. Peas, too.
• Just when you give up hope on a zucchini plant, it springs into action.
• I'm sure I'll think of more ...

MY FAVORITE PART ABOUT THIS YEAR'S GARDENING: Next year I'll be better.

Where did all the raccoons go?

As I was basking in the fact that my grass-seed-and-TAGRO mix has grown lush lawn where the torn up raccoon-ransacked portions of my yard used to be, I looked around at my neighbors' recently-replaced-by-ASARCO-lawns and realized something.

Their lawns are perfect. I do not see them out stomping squares of sod back down. They do not tear their hair out researching raccoon deterrents. They're blissfully basking in the perfect grass greenness, the newness of it all. Watering here and there and enjoying their fresh start.

And I realize, I haven't seen a raccoon in awhile.

So I ask, where'd they go?

I was NOT imagining them ...

A chat with a rose ...

So, we came home from something or other the other day, and Eddie noticed that "his" roses weren't as big as his sister's rose. (Basically, one of hers had bloomed and his were still buds.)

These are roses we bought at stupid-big-box store years ago. Just roots, really, and the one Eddie picked out got damaged the first year. I don't remember if it was while I was planting or after or what, but it's never been as bloomy as the one Abby picked out. So when he got out of the car to see one of hers blooming big, and his just (finally) starting to thrive (thank you TAGRO), he was upset. We explained that his were coming, and all sorts of things. But he was still upset.

We, I thought, all went inside. After a little bit, we look around. Where's Eddie? We call his name, nothing. Shout downstairs, nothing. Shout out the back door, nothing. I finally walk out the front door and spot Eddie still standing on the sidewalk, in front of his rose.

"Eddie, whattaya doin'?"

"Talking to my rose. To help it grow."

Wow.

We've joined the club! Swallowed the pill!

I think my household may have entered the gardener nerd club this week. The VERY entry level club, but the club nonetheless ... why, you ask? Because we actually traded plant starts with a neighbor yesterday. My husband has been taking seeds from things and planting them in (what else) TAGRO Potting Soil. We have mini orange trees, melons and I'm sure other things sprouting in random containers throughout the house. So yesterday one of our neighbors came over with some volunteer tomato starts from her garden and walked home with some of our melon starts. We're excited to discover what kind of tomatoes we'll get, as we've been informed that while she's pretty certain they're some variety of cherry tomato, they could be yellow pear, plum, or who knows what type. The kids are happy that there will be another edible in the garden.

OTHER UPDATES:

I found out why the kids didn't like the cilantro leaves so much the other day ... ours grew big and flowered, and apparently when they go to seed the leaves turn bitter. The key to cilantro is to use it use it use it. So perhaps I planted too much ... because cilantro is a once in awhile thing. So perhaps more spinach and mint, less cilantro.

My random seed spreading in one flower bed is finally starting to show signs of life. Ok, it's shown signs of life for awhile, but the flowers and shade plants I scattered are sprouting up. I'm anxious to see color emerge ...

Corner garden coming ...

So, apparently my corner veggie garden in the sun won't be a dream for long ... the lovely husband has dug holes for the fence! A fence, you ask? Well, the deer wander our neighborhood hunting for roses, the raccoons are nothing but trouble, the cats like to find litter-box worthy dirt, and I don't EVEN want to know what other kind of trouble my future veggie garden could get into if unprotected. So when my neighbor said fence, I did not flinch. So -- fence posts dug. Cement about to be bought. TAGRO Potting Soil about to be ordered, and many more EDIBLE VEGGIES about to be planted. Woo hoo! And it's only June 1. Apparently my fantasies ... at least some ... just might be coming true this year ... :)

Incredible, Edible ... PLANTS!

My husband told the kids today which plants in my garden are edible. The chocolate mint plan, the cilantro and the spinach. And apparently my kids were hungry. After determining that the cilantro's not so great just straight, they went around munching leaves of mint and spinach the rest of the afternoon. Seriously. Plucking leaves off the plants and eating them, and claiming to enjoy them. With E, this doesn't surprise me so much. He likes to eat onions raw and has been known to push his hot dog aside and take someone's cast off burger fixings, chomping on onions like fries and rolling up lettuce and chomping on it like a carrot. But the eldest? She's known for not touching anything green and leafy. Broccoli, yes, but SPINACH? Spinach NOT covered in Ranch dressing? Wow. She just monched on it. And the neighbor girl came over, saw what they were up to, and was like "I'm hungry ..." So, apparently the way to get your kids to each their veggies is to randomly grow them, not make a big deal out of it, then tell them they're edible ... whoah. I need to get to work planting the rest of my veggies ... fast. More incentive for a greenhouse I suppose.

Two birds, one hose

For anyone who has kids and a lawn, and now that it is hitting close to 90 degrees in my neck of the woods, I highly recommend obliging the children and letting them run crazy wild in the sprinklers while you water the lawn. That's a bang for your utility bill buck! Just remember to have dry towels on hand. Or a mop. Needless to say, I have very happy children right now. And a soon-to-be greener yard! :)

My fairy gardenmother to the rescue!

So my neighbor across the alley has tripped upon this blog and -- gasp -- figured out pretty quickly whose blog it was despite my meager attempts (I said meager) at anonymity. She read about my dreams and yearnings to make the mess that is the back corner of my yard (the one closest to her) into a garden that actually produced produce rather than spiders and blackberry bushes. And instead of teasing me about how long it's taken me to attack that corner (though I have been attacking other corners!) she got to work. This genius of a landscaper is once again lending some of her energies to my yard (and making sure she has something prettier to look at than a couple blackberry runners that keep re-emerging and the pile of bricks left by the previous owner when we bought the place more than five years ago.) Like I said, she is my fairy gardenmother. She's been plotting with my husband on making this a real plot. They've staked it out, ran the string, figured out which neighbor was about to get rid of the fencing, she even squished some nasty looking spiders and turned the pile of bricks into a border for the soon-to-be growing space. Pretty soon it will be ready to have a giant load of TAGRO Potting Soil dumped on it, some seeds and starts planted within, and then I will have no excuses for not keeping this corner kept up. So thank you, fairy gardenmother, for kickstarting some magic in my backyard, especially in that horrid corner, and for being patient with our household of gardening/yardscaping idiots over the last five years -- and for helping take the fear and mystery out of just getting growing. I look forward to you having a prettier view from your yard -- and to me becoming less of a gardening idiot.

Growth spurt!

On any other blog I'd be talking about the kids' growth spurt, but I'm talkin' about my garden plants. While I'm still waiting to see if the mixed flower seed I spread in one area a few weeks ago will actually emerge (there's something coming up, but I haven't discerned whether it's weeds or what I planted) ... other areas of the garden/beds are positively popping. The kids and I added a little extra TAGRO to each of the plants in the main flower bed ... and perhaps that's it, perhaps it was the warm couple days, or perhaps a little of my imagination, but today the pansies each have more than a half-dozen buds (and these aren't big plants), the peas doubled in size, my zucchini start exploded with happiness, the garlic's stalks are sitting up straight ... it's like they all got a little jumpstart. Perhaps it's a combo.

Now, the only PROBLEM with letting the kids help me shovel and such is when the 4-year-old boy gets frustrated at his 2-year-old sister and takes his kid-sized shovels and STARTS WHACKING HER ON THE HEAD WITH HIS SHOVEL!!!

Seriously. However, you will be happy to know that she was wearing her bike helmet at the time. Which is probably the only reason he even did it ... but still. NOT cool.

But the growth spurts of my green stuff ... very cool.

And now I must pay the front beds a little attention. All the TLC has gone to the back, and it's about time the sidewalk-walkers got a little peek at my newfound powers, too. :)

The barrels are full!

So, thanks to the fabulous hubby, the wine barrels (cut in half) we bought last year are finally in use. Two are up front in the planting strip, filled with TAGRO Potting Soil and now have herb starts planted in one, and flower seeds in the other. It will be nice to have some manageable color up there.

I love that GardenSphere is open on Sundays and now carries bags of the great stuff ... it makes it so convenient for us procrastinating gardeners in the neighborhood.

Time to go work some of the remaining TAGRO Mix into my dry, dry flower beds on the side of the house ... hopefully we'll get some moisture in there soon! Wow. I feel nerdy gardening knowledge coming ... not yet, but soon.

Lawn update

My lawn is rockin' it. And my husband's mowing it. Seriously, not only have I gotten the darling hubby to do OUTDOOR work, I've also gotten my lawn to work (now with hubby's help). Instead of big bare patches, I have lush, soft, toe-friendly, bright green lawn. And all it took was some TAGRO, some overseeding, and a bit of time ... but take THAT raccoons! Not so easy to roll up my lawn now, is it!?!?!?!?

Zucchini update

My dried up zucchini plant is now flourishing! A bit of water, some rest in my TAGRO-prepared plot and a day or so and it's as if I never left it on the porch without watering it for nearly a week. :) If all goes well, many of you will be getting zucchini bread (if I'm energetic) or the veggies them selves (if I'm feeling lazy) this summer and fall. I'm excited!

An "aha moment" while digging in the dirt

I'd been told all about soil quality, why it mattered and how to improve it and all that. But only yesterday did I truly understand the difference between totally crappy soil and really nice tilth. There's an area to the side of my house ... part of the area that had its dirt replaced last year ... this side of house I thought got OK exposure to rain, but recently it always looked bone dry even during downpours. Well, I'd done a half-assed attempt at adding soil amendment (TAGRO) to the area a couple weeks ago. And let's just say I might be making a more thorough attempt in the near future. Because as I took the hose to the thirsty plants, it was SO OBVIOUS the difference between where I could water and water and water and it seemed like the plants could drink forever, and the areas where I'd barely drop any liquid and it would slide and pool and run away -- and if I touched the dirt in these pooling areas, it would be BONE DRY underneath. It was so dry and sandy that nothing could soak in ... no wonder my plants were sad. And I'd go back in forth, incredulously, between where the water would not soak, and where it seemed like it would soak in forever -- the areas where I was wondering if the hose was even on it soaked in so nice and fast. It was kind of a nice science experiment,and gave me hope that even gardening idiots like me can learn a thing or two. And now off to add some more TAGRO and compost to the garden so that my plants won't be so thirsty ...

Dreamin' of zucchinis

Bought a zucchini and white pumpkin start last Sunday, and was a bad girl and did not plant them right away. And I see that zucchini definitely need water. Ran out to plant them this evening into the soil I'd already prepared a couple weeks ago, then soaked them to make up for the past few days. What, you ask? Why plant zucchini? Your coworkers already bring you zucchini by the bagful? Well, it's ONLY one zucchini. And I really, really like zucchini bread. And the white pumpkins, well, they're for something different.

And I'm quickly running out of garden space. Hmmm ... me think next year will take a bit more planning. :)

I see dead people!

Kidding. Actually, I see live sprouts. Bean sprouts!

I walked through the back yard when coming home tonight and peeked into my flower bed. It's blooming something crazy. Everything's finally taking root I think. Everything looks healthy and strong. And my huge square of pea plants was covered in green sprouts! Must hurry and go buy stakes and strings and things for these little sweet peas to ggrow upward on ... at least that's what I've been told.

Can't wait to show the kids.

Sprouting sprouts and grassroots efforts

The sweet peas I had my kids push into the ground are beginning to sprout. It's so sweet to see.

Of course, the whatever herb my hubby planted in his makeshift indoor greenhouse (reused plastic insta-dinner container) is also sprouting, and at a speedier rate, even though he planted it later. But it is a makeshift greenhouse.

Which only makes me eye the corner of our property with even more greenhouse-lust. Year-round gardening. It would be lovely. We could curb our Pioneer Organics subscription to every other week instead of every week perhaps. Save ourselves a few bucks and have fun doing it.

Plus, it's fun to hook the kids on this kind of thing.

And if the backyard doesn't work -- and, actually, even if it does, we plan to join the resurging BUGS (Bridging Urban Gardens Society) -- a group of community garden enthusiasts who are forming a sort of guerrilla work party. Don't have time to monitor a plot on a weekly basis? Already have a backyard haven but want the other benefits of a community garden. Then this is the group for you ... come help weed or otherwise take care of another established community garden, and take advantage of the community aspect, being in the garden, and feel good about helping some folks out. It's a good thing.

Want to know more? E-mail me and I'll make sure you do.

Some help from the hubby!

The grass has been growing so thick and lush that I haven't been able to keep up. Plus, our push (reel) mower needed a bit of oiling and such. Which my darling husband took care of this weekend. Yay!

And while he was out and about and the kids were happily playing in the yard, digging big holes in the designated hole-digging area, and daredevil biking and triking down the alley hill ... I was able to replant all the flowers I'd yanked out of the flower box when I planted my herbs and veggies, and plant flower seeds I'd bought two or three years ago, and TAGRO-ize the heck out of all open surfaces of dirt. And planted some roses and lavender that had been sitting around since last summer waiting to be planted.

It felt good.

And I was oh, so sore. But I think this is still a record for me as far as getting started on our corner of Tacoma's great outdoors. Usually it's a bit of Easter or Mother's Day inspiration which quickly fizzles once my "let's go outside" guests/assistants go home.

Not this year. I'm motivated to stay the course. And the kids are motivated to do lots of outdoor playing.

Score.

GardenSphere: A world of wonder

Nothing like a bit of sun to make even idiot gardeners like me crave the earth, some seeds and a bit of dreaming about what could be. Last week's blink of sun got me moving, grooving all the way to GardenSphere on Proctor where the friendly folk offer advice and knowledge to those of us who wish our gardens looked as lush as their displays.

Not only did I pick up a plethora of seedlings, including yellow strawberries, spinach, beets, chives, Walla Walla sweet onions, rosemary, thyme, lavender, chocolate mint, cilantro, and so much more ... but my eldest chickadee picked out plenty of flowers to brighten things up.

And, the icing on the cake, or whatever similar gardening-like analogy might work, was that they had packets of seeds from Territorial Seed Co. What better way to satisfy my gardening urges than the ability to get my hands on the seeds I dream of RIGHT AWAY?!?!

I went a little nuts. Two boxes of plants, a bag full of seed packets (peas, pumpkins, tomatoes, corn, sunflowers, peppers, flowers, and more I'm sure I'm forgetting), a couple of knee cushions, some kid-sized gardening goodies and gloves later, and we were finally home.

And for the first time I think ever, I planted all the seedlings the day I bought them. And now, instead of staring out at a sad, sad raised flower bed, I have a happy, hunky dory raised veggie garden bed. I'm looking forward to picking up my salad ingredients from the backyard.

Hmmm ... a mini-greenhouse is beginning to look more and more necessary. Our kitchen windowsill is only so big ...

Mother Nature's feeding my yard!

A day of springy 70-degree weather and some morning rain has pushed my grass sprouts into overdrive. I will have a great lawn by spring break! :) My neighbor has jumped on the bandwagon and borrowed some of my extra TAGRO and done her lawn as well. Looks like everything will be nice and green this summer. Now, I just need to hit the plant store today. I'm itching to plant. Now, as long as the plants don't make me itch, we'll all be good.

Feeling ambitious

I got home later than normal, but then went outside with the kids and decided that the plant life in my flower box was hardy enough to deal with some temporary transplanting, or else I'll just replace it. So I dug up the daisies and irises and other flowers that were once upon a time transplants from a neighbor and starting mixing that TAGRO into the dirt. Dug up some interesting old pipe and pieces of pottery, but otherwise got quite the workout turning over hard dirt and mixing in the biosolids in hopes of getting some really good soil going. The kids even grabbed little buckets and helped out. Next on the docket: replanting the pulled up flowers, planting potted roses and lavender that have been sitting around since last fall, and buying some new stuff and actually having a flower bed. And then hitting the other area that needs to be dug up.

But needless to say, progress is being made. And, elsewhere in the yard, more and more grass sprouts are sprouting! Woo hoo! It's all working! My yard is taking shape!

I'm ecstatic.

Delusions of greenery?

I see grass sprouts! Pretty grass sprouts.

Go AWAY, raccoons ...

Bloody raccoons. They're back. Pulling up the edges of the sod they've basically already killed. Grrr ... don't mess with my grass seed. Grass seed I'm still waiting to sprout. Sigh. I was afraid I'd do it too soon ... it's been so cold lately nothing's germinating yet. Though the existing grass is looking phenomenal thanks to the TAGRO. And with a little TLC, the lawn is coming back to life. I just need a few warm days to wake up the grass seed. Wish me luck ...

Days 5-10: Sick in bed, dreaming of raised beds

Ugh. I can't blame spring, but the farthest I've been able to get as far as gardening this last week would be dreaming about it as I lay feverishly in bed, stare longingly through Saturday's freakin' massive downpour, stare groggily at it during my medicated haze on Sunday, and cough at it today as I continue to barely be able to walk a block without getting dizzy. Grr. Why am I taunted so?

So my dear lawn, my dear garden, do not think I'm gone, I do not mean to neglect you so. I'm still keeping an eye out for little grass sprouts to pop up -- and I'm so glad the rain has been so regular and kept you so well watered. I look forward to seeing you sprout.

One realization today: If I do get to putting together a raised bed, I realized that I should probably be thinking several long and narrow raised bedS rather than the one big fat one I was imagining. This might be a no-duh to some of you, as I'm learning part of the purpose of raised beds is having an area that's easy to work with that's set up so that you don't have to walk on the soil, and therefore the soil stays well-drained and doesn't get over-compacted and all that. Makes sense. And starts to put my dreams into better focus.

So I guess it wasn't a completely wasted week. I'm not having to tear up a big, fat, giant raised bed ...

Days 3 & 4: God bless the rain

No time blocks for gardening, and God bless the rain -- it's doing the work for me. Haven't even worried about over watering the lawn seeds after finishing up the re-seed thanks to some stormy weather. I think I timed this right. Not only am I saving on my water bill and relieving pressure from my taxed memory, but the kids aren't trying to play soccer or T-ball in the middle of my baby lawn.

Now I have time to plot my "next move" while I anxiously wait for the pot to boil ... err, grass seeds to germinate.

And despite previous fears of what the new alley would do once the rain began, the stormwater flowed nicely into the stormwater drain -- as it should -- during yesterday's downpour. Yeah.

Time to go work on my checklist ... must research what's the next garden project to hurdle.

Because this year I'm determined to stop the trend of years past -- this year my lawn and gardens will look better by the end of the season rather than worse. Seriously. Stop laughing!

Day 2 - Project Lawn now in orbit

Took advantage of a sunny Sunday and finished up the overseeding of my lawn, and bucket-by-bucket spreading of Tagro across my lawn. One of these days I'll invest in a wheelbarrow -- but for now, I'll just chalk it up to a workout.

It feels so nice to have completed a project over the course of one weekend rather than many.

And now that the kids are all out of newborn stage, I look forward to many spring and summer evenings of all of us out in the yard, playing, weeding, gardening, and spending time together.

It's obvious our whole block is going to be pretty social this summer. Our alley just got paved, and as I spread seed and soil amendment all over my sad, soddy, bare-spot-covered lawn, the alley erupted into action. Bicycles, tricycles, skateboards, parents and kids playing catch, kids running, cats stalking ... it was rather heartwarming.

And now that the paving is done, the spot at the edge of my yard, between the yard and the alley, the parking strip and the fence, is looking like it might become that raised-bed veggie gardens of my dreams after all. But perhaps I should focus on the flower beds, first. Hmm ... the to-do list at the moment:

1. Finish planting the lavender and roses still in their containers from last summer/fall's purchases
2. Fill in the flower beds, and mix some potting soil and/or soil amendment into them
3. Research some groundcover and easy plants to fill in some bare dirt spaces
4. Plot out my raised bed plan
5. Keep an eye on the lawn and see what it does -- a couple spots might soon turn into rain gardens to alleviate drainage issues
6. Determine whether we're replacing the deck this year or next
   
7. Dream about cheap and easy green houses (probably something for next year or the year after)

And yes, I meant to number those ... that's pretty much the order I see things happening. So if something at the end of the list gets accomplished, and something at the beginning doesn't, I will officially be in shock.

Day 1 - Green Intentions

I grew up on a farm. But don't overestimate me -- we didn't farm it, a local farm family rented the fields surrounding our house and did the farming. We had the benefit of running through fields and forest, but any gardening we did was in the side yard with our mother. And after a certain point in our childhood, we all go too busy to continue the garden and it became a fond memory, rather than reality.

Now, I live in the city. And I struggle to keep my grass green, my flowers perky, and, in general, putting the dirt to good use. I really haven't a clue as to what to do with a raised bed. I see friends' gardens full of this and that -- and even when it's random it looks fabulous. But I don't know where to start.

Last year, as a North Ender living near the former Asarco plant, I got my lawn "remediated" ... meaning they allegedly took out a bunch of dirt, put "clean" dirt back in, and then spread sod all over my once spotty lawn.

It was heaven, for a few days. We watered religiously, and scooted our toes through the lush greens after they'd had a few days to put down roots.

But then the raccoons attacked.

Rolling up the edges of the sod to get at the grubs they figured were hiding beneath. Heck, pretty soon they were pulling up the little sod squares all over the place. One morning, my husband claims that he awoke to at least half if not three-quarters of the sod sitting askew from the roly poly raccons hunting for midnight snacks. Needless to say, this didn't do nice things to our lawn.

Then came my mowing attempts. While a push reel mower is great for an established lawn on established soil, apparently it can wreak a bit of havoc on poorly draining new dirt and sod. The clippings I hoped would add additional nutrition into my yard turned to a paste on my lawn that effectively thwarted the previous few weeks' hard work.

Then fall came, and the leaves falling from the neighbor's tree helped not a bit.

So I've stared at my pitiful lawn for the last couple months. Waiting.

Now it's almost spring. And I've decided to take action. I ordered a load of the City of Tacoma's Tagro "soil amendment" product. My husband went over to GardenSphere and got a big bag of grass seed. And today, despite the rain, I went to work. Spreading seed and Tagro, hoping that by summer my children will have grass to roll on ... and I won't rake up sod netting every time I try to collect clippings or leaves.

We'll see how it goes. I have other gardening intentions as well ... big dreams of figuring out this raised beds thing, maybe someday constructing a rain garden or even a small greenhouse. Actually buying plants and planting them, rather than letting them die in their containers. And now that the children are old enough to play while I play in the mud. Heck, now that they're old enough to help.

Here goes ...