"The Earth Laughs in Flowers" -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ever since I can remember, my parents and grandmother used to garden, every year, in order to provide food for our table. They planted EVERYTHING! Tomatoes, potatoes, green beans, squash, cucumbers, lettuce, etc. Anything you can think of, I'm sure they've tried it, and with success.


Maybe it's the new generation problems (probably is the new generation problem), but my sisters and I somehow managed to miss this "green-thumb" gene. Not from lack of trying, mind you, but there were times where we tried growing even a small cactus, and that cactus decided that it was dryer than the Sahara Dessert and wilted into nothing. Plus, growing up, we weren't exactly the outdoors people. No matter how often our parents tried, they couldn't get us off our butts to help them garden, only on the occasional mulch laying or harvesting of vegetables. We all understood the concept, like what needed to be done, but it took a little while to get us to actually do it well.

In the last couple of years, especially after attending culinary school, I've realized how embarrassing it was to not know what a cucumber plant, or a tomato plant, or even a broccoli plant looked like. I cook these items every day, and yet, I had no idea where or how they came. I knew I had to educate myself. I started spending more time in my parents garden, as they patiently re-taught me (because I'm sure they had already before) all about gardening. The composting (kudos to my cousin for this one, too, Ms. Organic Agriculturist), the watering, the planting, and even harvesting. I even googled and youtube-d a lot of information so that I can do it the right way, the first time.  I started feeling confident in my skills and I think my plants have felt it, too.

So needless to say, I started my own garden this year. The ever so kind Mr. Whittington and Mr. Matthews came with their heavy duty tiller and broke the ground for me. April was a very wet season, but we managed to get it broken down and dried before the planting season. In May, I went over to Caldwells Greenhouse and bought me an assortment of tomato plants (Roma, Cherry, Oxheart, and Mortgage Lifters), peppers (Banana, Sorrano, and Jalapenos), and Herbs (Parsley, Cilantro, Basil, and Mint). My dad and Ms. Leah also gave me extra herbs and plants to add to my garden. I was set for the year.

Left First Column: Peppers
Second Column: Oxheart and Cherry
Third Column: Mortgage Lifter and Roma,
Fourth Column: Herbs, Sunflowers, and Morning Glories  

On the first day of planting, I worked on the row of peppers. It took me a while, but as I got the hang of it, I was able to work quicker, finishing the tomato plants in half the time I did the peppers. Next day, I had to leave for a business trip, and when I came back, Hines had put up a beautiful, sturdy, chicken-wire fence around the garden so that animals would stay away. Other than birds, I haven't had an animal problem, yet. I'm thankful for his work and everyone's help and advice on starting my garden. It's been a joy so far and as they continue to grow, I can't wait to share with you all the fruits of my labor.