Sprouts

Despite the intensive post-planting tilling that was provided by my big beasts, I have little sprout coming up all over the place!   I was so skeptical after I saw what the dogs had destroyed.   I definitely have 10-12 cucumber plants up and tons (50 or 60?) what I am right now calling, "Others" because I'm not sure what they are.  They all look similar and I believe they are either zuccini or collard greens.  After planting onions last month, I learned that onions are cold weather crops so I'm not optimistic that those will produce but that's ok.  Live and learn.  The carrots are probably doomed.  They're only supposed to be placed 1/4 inch into the soil and my seeds are probably about 12 INCHES down thanks to my "assistants".  sigh.     This is our first year though so I'm thrilled to have some sproutlets.  I'm sure we will improve the design before the next planting and hopefully figure out a way to keep the dogs O.U.T!  Any ideas are welcome!

This is my container garden.  It contains Valley Girl and Celebrity tomatoes, bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, and a strawberry plant. 

The competition

This is Murphy, our 85 pound black lab.  He and his buddy, Max love to run and wrestle all day.  They tear across the yard at breakneck speed then tumble together having a great time.  We came home one week ago, the day after we planted our seeds, to find Murphy and Max busted through the fence around the garden and decided to dig.  Basically they tilled my garden AFTER it was planted.  UGH!!!

Irrigation

My hardworking' hubby dug a trench from the water faucet and buried PVC line out to the garden to ensure adequate irrigation.  Historically, the busy-ness of life precluded life-sustaining hydration of our plants.  But this year, DH fixed that!  Attached to this faucet is a soaker hose that snakes it's way through the garden.  

The Scorpion Pit

This is the area of our yard we decided to cultivate into our garden.  For 6 1/2 years we have lovingly referred to it as the scorpion pit since scorpions are the only creatures that thrive there.  It began essentially as pure unaltered Texas land.  No sod.  No top soil.  Just hard dirt and even harder rocks.  

In the beginning

This is the area at the edge of our "scorpion pit" that we designated for our garden.  It's bordered by landscape rock thingies about 18-24 inches deep and filled with 3 truck loads of gardenville's garden soil.  

I'm going to try my first photo!  Wish me luck!

Day One

This is the beginning of the chronicles of my garden.  I don't fancy myself as much of a writer or a gardener for that matter but a friend suggested starting a gardening blog and I thought it was a great idea.    We've lived in our home for 6 1/2 years now and have finally gotten the funds and desire to improve the back yard.  Our yard is larger than a standard neighborhood lot so it offers many opportunities for someone with the creative ideas.  I just don't happen to be that person.  But this year, a coworker was talking about growing all her own vegetables and I thought it was a great idea.  Thus the gardening bug was born into my heart.  I have great dreams of a lush garden that will nourish my family.  But I also realize this is my first go at it and it's not going to be perfect.  In the past, I've grown tomatoes and cucumbers in raised containers with fair results.  For the most part, the problem was my busy life.  I just couldn't seem to remember to water regularly.  And everyone knows what sort of results that will yield.  

But this year will be different.  I have two little helpers -- my daughters.  They are now old enough to remind me to water and/or water themselves.  Additionally, my DH created an irrigation system of sorts for this years' garden.   I will post photos as soon as I figure out how to do that.