Garden Talk

May seems like it has been a busier month, but I think that's because it's finally warmed up here so we are "wasting" more time hanging out outside and trying to get yard/garden projects done.  I am proud to say the garden is planted earlier than ever this year.  I think a full 3 weeks ahead of last year.  Hopefully, another June snowstorm doesn't come along this year.  Funny sidenote on that, there is an amazing new series on Animal Planet about wildlife in Yellowstone.  An episode I saw over the weekend was about all of the animals coming out of hibernation only to be greeted by a huge blizzard.  Then I realized I experienced that exact same storm last June and had been thankful my garden wasn't in yet.  Let's hope the Yellowstone wildlife don't have another June blizzard for all of our sakes.  

Ok, back to garden specifics.  This year I really want to plant stuff that we would use, not just stuff that seemed fun to grow.  My garden isn't that big so I want to make sure I use it efficiently.  I have 5 different kinds of tomatoes planted, including one cherry tomato plant specifically for Piper.  I found an easy way to preserve tomatoes that isn't canning them so bring on the bumper crop.  I am putting tomatoes out earlier this year with the help of those plastic water walls.  My friend January swears by them and she is the sort of friend whose advice should never be ignored (she's a supermom, as in does everything, super-saver, 2 girl scout troops, on a gazillion school-related committees, and makes it all look relatively easy).  

What else.  I have red, purple, and yukon gold potatoes planted.  Red and yellow onions, lots of yellow because we eat A LOT of onions.  I bought some pea plants and planted some more from seed.  I bought the pea plants to get a head start for Piper's benefit because she LOVES to go pick fresh peas (and tomatoes) and eat them on the spot.  Peas are also cold hardy so they are more likely to survive Montana springs.  I wasn't going to plant corn because it takes up so much space, but then I found red corn (laughing now on the inside because it just made me think of John Redcorn ala King of the Hill).

How could I resist growing corn that looked like that?  We now have 3 short rows.  I've also planted some asparagus this year.  You can't harvest for 3 years, but it will be nice to be able to pick my own asparagus.  I remember as a kid, it grew wild along the ditch banks and my mom would sometimes make us go help her pick it.  I hated it then, but love it now (all but the stinky pee).  Grilled and wrapped in pancetta mmm mmm mmm......  I planted cucumbers even though I am the only one that eats them.  I hope to make my own pickles this year even though I am the only one that eats them, too.  

I am trying something new with my squash thanks to a tip found by my friend Gina.  Mike is going to build be a trellis similar to this.   I am hoping this will help the zucchini and butternuts from taking over the garden with their vines.  I said I wasn't going to try butternut again because our season isn't quite long enough, but I REALLY love butternut squash.  Seeds are a cheap investment and I am starting earlier this year so I just might get some semblance of a butternut crop this year.  

More.  I am growing my pole beans on the dog kennel again because it makes for a good trellis and camouflages it a bit, too.  There's a few jalapeno plants for making salsa or eating fresh on Mexican food.  Those are yet another thing my mom made me eat when I was young, as in make beef stew with jalapenos for dinner.  I definitely know where I got my spicy cravings from.  I also planted some carrots and beets.  I haven't planted beets before and I loved those from my Grandma's garden steamed with butter as a child.  I saw a recipe where you grilled them so that inspired me to grow them.  Grilling vegetables really gives veggies a different but oh so yummy flavor.  When the veggies start to brown, their natural sugars begin to carmelize giving them a slightly sweet but roasted flavor.  I also have spinach and lettuce.  Greens are always good to have around.  I bought some strawberry plants this year (also for Piper).  Not enough to do much with but snacking, but good snacking strawnerries they will be.  

Herbs.  There's rosemary I kept inside from last year over the winter.  Dill for making those aforementioned pickles and cilantro for the aformentioned salsa.  I haven't planted the basil yet (just remembered I forgot those), but I like to make homemade pesto sometimes (it freezes well) and chopped basil also good to toss with fresh garlic and tomatoes and pasta.  I don't use much fresh oregano, but I read recently about planting it in your flowergarden to fill in empty space.  I can't remember if it is a perennial or just reseeds well, either way it comes back every year.  My flower garden could use some more variety so why not have some fresh oregano in there, too.  

Gardening is a lot of work, but it's also immensely satisfying to grow your own food.  You can go out everyday and see how things have changed.  It may take a while before you harvest, but the process of it all is very entertaining so the work is all worth it.  Wow, I think there was just a bit of an epiphany there and I didn't even mean for it.  I think I'll end with that thought and repeat it once again for effect.  

It may take a while before you harvest, but the process of it all is very entertaining so the work is all worth.  

(insert your goal or dream in place of "it")

***For those of you that have visited this blog recently, the May 13th post only appeared today.  It's just been sitting in drafts unfinished.  So you're not crazy when you think it wasn't there before.