The usual motions.

The garden is coming along. More tilling of the ground, but I'm finally getting close enough to buy my starts and get most of the seeds sprouting.
I purchased starts of broccoli, brussel sprouts, garlic, onions, potatoes, and a few flowers.
The plan is to have the garden finished and the starts planted by the time mom comes home from her hip surgery. She is doing well so my time might be cut short, though I can't complain about that. I know she hates being away from home and in a hospital instead.
Being started right now I have Sweet Corn and Popcorn, Beefsteak tomatoes as well as yellow pear and super sweet 100s. Golden sweet peppers, Serrano, Habanero, Ghost peppers and Jalapenos are also coming along.
I just seen to finish up the actual garden beds then I'll be able to plant the rest. I'm going to grow pumpkins in large containers again because it seemed to work very well for us at our old house.

Slow Progress

John and I worked on the garden yesterday. It was nice, one of the warmer days so far and it was actually sunny! About half of the garden has been tilled and weeds removed. Guess it'll be a while before I have another day off to make more progress, though.

There are a few projects we've been brainstorming. There are a lot of old unused tires in the yard from my dad so my mom suggested we line the fence with them and use them as planters. There are plenty of them so that adds some garden space. We are also going to grow some potatoes using the tires as well.

I'm so antsy to get the garden growing, I hate that other things keep getting in my way. Like work! hah. At least I have a few tomato seedlings to keep me somewhat satisfied.

It's just the natural process.

It feels odd, planning a garden and a funeral service at the same time.
I don't mean to sound depressing, but I think it's a good way to help my mom and myself grieve.
I brought her my big box of seeds and she seemed very enthusiastic about a lot of the choices I had.

So we're adding Lemon Cucumbers and Beets to the list of things to grow. Also, asparagus. I've always wanted to try my hand at it.

My mother is also very fond of Raspberries so no doubt John and I will buy a few bushes. He really loved them too. The leaves were such a pleasant shape.. I am so happy that we are being let loose to grow as many plants as we want with the yard. It's so therapeutic.

It's like coming back to an Old Friend

Hello blog,

It's been a while. A lot has happened.
I've moved a few times, changed jobs, and just a few days ago my father passed away.
It was a big shock to me even though his health has suffered through the years. I was always convinced that he'd be too stubborn to go.

Life is changing once again. My boyfriend of 4 1/2 years and I are moving in with my mom. She is in the process of getting hip and knee surgeries so I feel better knowing we're around. She said she wanted a garden this year. I tried to do some work there last summer but I didn't plan well enough and it was too late in the season for anything to really grow. This time John and I are already planning what to do. My mom has a few specific requests, but aside from that she has no issue with us doing as we please with the large amount of yard space at hand.

Gardens were always around while I was growing up, my mom loves to grow things. She really wants to grow enough vegetables to freeze and eat for a while so it's going to take a bit of planning in order to grow the amount of food she has in mind.
I just ordered a few seeds so this is what we are thinking. All ordered from Annie's Heirloom Seeds which I have never purchased from before.

Catnip
Catskill Brussels Sprouts
Danver's Half Long Carrot
Early Snowball Cauliflower
Golden Bantam Sweet Corn
Habanero Pepper
Lavender - Common English
Paris Island Cos Lettuce
Serrano Pepper
Tom Thumb Popcorn
Pumpkins
Sugar Snap Peas
Kentucky Blue Pole Bean
Broccoli
Sweet 100 Tomatoes
Red Onion

There will probably be more, and there will definitely be flowers as well.
I'm excited for the garden, and I'm just happy my boyfriend and I are able to be there for my mom.

My Favorite Flower! How to easily grow beautiful Cosmos.

I am very excited to share my recently blooming cosmos with you all! Never would I really describe myself as a person into "flower gardening" but recently I have had a bigger interest in the beautiful blooms. They make me feel much more cheerful when I go for a walk in the yard and can spot new ones that were not there the day before!
Cosmos have not necessarily been my favorite flower for ages, not at all. They used to appear very plain and I would not have paid them any mind perhaps a year ago. I tend to look to extravagant colors, lush greens, and a fragrant bloom however these simple petals have won me over!

Cosmos are simple yet lovely.

With these particular flowers, I took a very lazy approach. I bought them simply because when planning to grow a vegetable garden there where many sources that told me I should also have a few flowers to attract bees and pollinating insects to the area. I cleared a small strip of dirt in front of my window and barely covered the seeds with the soil there. I don't believe I even used garden soil, but it looks like it once had a flower bed before we lived here. I watered them from time to time though there were times that I knew I was being neglectful. Often times, the thin bouncy leaves were very wilted and laying flat. Shockingly, they have enough strength to hold themselves up! Since noticing my horrible ways, they have received much more love and attention.

This may be the only Cosmo with 2 flowers.

The Cosmo seeds should be planted a bit after the threat of frost has completely passed. These plants are very sensitive to cold weather and are great to grow as an annual. I sowed mine at the start of June and they are now blooming late August/Early September so planting these a bit earlier is recommended. As long as the weather stays at least somewhat mild they should continue to grow and blossom. In my area of Zone 8 they are great to sow in the ground mid-April.
They should be planted in an area with lots of sun meaning at least 6 hours a day. As I said, I did not prepare the bed for them aside from pulling a few weeds. Cosmos grow very well in poor or normal soil conditions.
Flowers can range from red, white, purple and a combination of all! I've also seen orange. The cosmos blooming in my yard are magenta and light pink, as well as a single light lilac colored one that was nibbled on by snugs.