plant a garden

Last years garden didnt go quite as well as it could have. But it was my first one. I have definately learned from it and will try again with improvements hopefully.

I did get started, but I am keeping this on the list as it is something I want to continue.

I have
3 varieties of tomato Caspian Pink, Beefsteak, and Ladybug
Mini cucumbers
3 varieties of cantaloupe
basil
oregano
thyme
garlic chive
cilantro
watermelon
colored carrots
mesclun

I have a few other things I want to get started, but will see how this goes.

I planted a pot of purple heart, also known as wandering jew. I cut off a whole bunch of stems from my parents plant and put them in good soil. Super easy plant to propogate so I think they should take. I really wanted to get a bird of paradise from them too, but the only one they had that I could take was huge and leggy and just not looking too good. So I shall buy a few small ones. I also got 3 gardening tubs (which Dad had called raised beds, but they really are not what I was expecting) a nice metal trellis for beans or tomatoes, some soil amender, some unidentified squash seeds, and a composting bin! Yay!

I picked up Gardening for Dummies and am expanding all my plans. My yard is basically a blank slate and I want to landscape the very front and give it some curb appeal. I want a patio area in the front with seating and shade and already bought a bouganvillea to train along the archway that leads to the front door. I want a mesquite tree somewhere, must decide where. Someday I would love to have a covered patio built along the back of the house. I need to figure out where I am putting the butterfly/hummingbird areas, and I would love to have some sort of water feature. I know where the vegetable gardens are going.

Picking up the raised beds next weekend, and going to convert what used to be the top bunk of a bunkbed into another one. I just have to get them installed, filled with good dirt, and then make a plan on what it is I want to start planting.

I really dont know anything about gardening, so this is really going to be a learning experience for me. Hopefully I dont give up. My Dad has four raised beds that he is giving me and going to help me put into the yard. I am probably more excited about this prospect than any other part of the move. I found out that Starbucks puts bags of old coffee grinds outside their doors for people to take for their soil. I am going to get some, but I dont even know why yet. LOL

My Dad has promised to come over and help me build a few raised beds along the side of my house. I have never had a garden and have lots of plans. I found a planting schedule for my zone and am going to try out a few different varieties. I am also planning on getting a lemon tree and have found a dwarf avocado which can be grown in a container, which might make it possible for me to grow them in my zone. I want to do an herb garden also.