How Does Your Garden Grow?

 Well, it's nearing the end of May and we're still having cool weather here.  Very unusual for our part of California, but I'm not complaining.  I know those 100 degree temperatures will be here soon enough.

Our garden is doing well.  I have mixed feeling about it.  I've been able to keep everything alive so far (except the poor watermelon plant that was eaten by the snails).  But I'm still waiting for those little blossoms that bring a promise of life... and harvest.

Our little strawberries are trucking along.  They kids have been excited to pick a few after dinner each night.  It's only a few, but really the strawberries were meant as a gardening lesson for the kids more than anything.  And they are wonderful with ice cream.  As my husband said, they are true wild strawberries, not as big and sweet at the store bought ones, but yummy nonetheless.

The peppers and tomatoes are doing well.  In fact, there may be a few blossoms on the cherry tomatoes, just no fruit yet.  My big tomato plant is green and happy, but not growing as quickly as I'd like.  Not sure if it's lack of sun or just lack of a green thumb.

We had to restart our peas (again a victim of the snails), but my starters are looking good and there were a few original plants that survived so I feel confident we'll have peas before the summers out.  The lemon tree is late blooming this year as well.  I think part of this stunted growth must be the cooler summer we're having.  But the roses are loving it.  I love walking out into the back yard to that burst of color.  The lady that lived here before definitely loved color and they are gorgeous.

I have a few herbs going, but not holding out a lot of hope for them.  Our friendly neighborhood blue jay is loving the seeds and I'm not sure I can save them.  That's the drawback to be a refuge for the neighborhood birds.  But all in all I'm happy with how things are going.  It's a learning year for me and I'm excited to see how things go.

And after all, we'll be adding more next year as we've promised an orange tree to Lydia when she potty trains and she's getting aweful close.

So how are your gardens going?  Any successes to share?  Any lessons learned?  How's it going?

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