Playing In The Dirt!

Well, this will be try number 3 in the last few days to post. I must say, either this ipad or the new blogspot deal has totally thrown me. Not a huge surprise being that I'm not the most tech savvy person! I've been totally distracted with the outdoors the past few weeks. The weather here in San Antonio has been nothing short of glorious! Cool evenings and mornings with highs in the high 70's - low 80's during the day has made for perfect gardening weather. To be honest, I might have contracted a HUGE case of the gardening bug! I'm not sure that it hasn't quickly become nearly an obsession! Being out in the yard on a cool morning, or in the evening, planting, weeding, feeding, and pruning is a huge form of relaxation for me these days. In reality, I'm pretty sure that I inherited this love for playing in the dirt from my mother. One of my biggest memories from childhood is of her working away in her gardens. My very first memory had to have been when I was quite young. My mother made a rock garden that she proceeded to tuck "Hens and Chicks" into. I remember being fascinated with the name of these little plants and how quickly they reproduced themselves. Last summer I decided that the best, most frugal way to garden was to buy perennials. They don't have to be replaced every year and in fact will quite quickly reproduce new plants which can be moved or given away. Initially, they may be a bit more expensive but in the long run will give back many times over the cost. I haven't been disappointed! What fun it has been to watch these plants come up this spring and flourish! We also put in a raised vegetable garden last summer. All winter long I had fresh spinach, lettuce, kale, broccoli, cabbage and cilantro. I planted carrots last fall that we are enjoying now along with lettuce and spinach (almost done). The biggest surprise of all this spring was when last years eggplant "came back". Thinking it was dead I went out to pull it out of it's pot and found new shoots were coming up off the old "mother" plant. I quickly called my mother and asked if she'd ever heard of such a thing, which she had not. I was skeptical that I would actually get any fruit off this surprise plant but, I was wrong! The plant has been loaded with blossoms and I have 3 nice sized eggplants already. I also found a couple of basil plants that made it through our extremely mild winter. This is really unheard of as Basil is considered an "extremely" tender herb. Scented Geraniums, terragon, lavender, comfrey and santolina all flourished as well. This spring I've added several new beds with quite a few different types of verbenas, salvias, etc. Both of these do very well in our hot Texas summer sun. I've added several new rose bushes and quite a few more perennials. I also have added quite a few new lavender plants. It took me a couple of years but I found a spot that they seem to like and flourish in. I LOVE lavender! Anyone who knows me knows this. Since I've been "cut off" by my husband and banned from greenhouses, nurseries and pretty much anywhere in general that sells plants etc. I decided I needed to try something I've been wanting to try for a long time. Soap making. I've ordered the supplies and can't wait for them to get here. I'm hoping to make my own oatmeal lavender soap and am planning on putting some of the lavender I've grown into it! I'll be sure to post how that all goes next week. In the meantime, there's lots to do in the garden so I think I'll go play in the dirt a little more. Have a wonderful week! Sue