First Garden Post of 2015

Spring is here!  After a pretty lame winter in these parts--we had very little snow and incredibly mild/springish temps for most of the season--we are now fully into spring mode.  We haven't returned our skis yet because I'm secretly hoping for a giant snowstorm and 1 more chance to ski, but now that it's April, it's getting much less likely that will happen.

In addition to already conquering a few hikes this season, I've been working on getting the garden started and already have a few things sprouting!

Here's the first garden update for 2015:

Tulips and the Deer that ate them:  I planted 6 dozen in the fall and deer have come and helped themselves to about 5 dozen.  But, that means at least 12 beautiful blooms for me to enjoy.  Note to self:  Work harder to find a deer repellent that works.

So far, I've planted spinach, sugar snap peas, lettuce, and swiss chard.  I planted garlic in the fall and that is growing like crazy, which is one of the reasons I planted it.  I love feeling the early spring success!  :)

spinach sprouting

Swiss chard planted-no sprouts yet

Sugar snap peas are popping up! 

Garlic!! 

So that I can compare how the garden looks from month-to-month, here's the views of the garden on April 1st.  I can't wait until it's all lush and green again!   That Hancock-building-looking-thing is the trellis I made for the sugar snap peas to climb.  Supposedly they grow 6 feet tall--we'll see! 

Should've had a beautiful tulip border--ugh deer! 

This year, my plan for the garden is to mostly grow things that I don't need to cook.  I love grabbing handfuls from the garden, rinsing them off, and putting them on the table for snacks and sides for lunch and dinner.  I'm also pretty over growing tomatoes.  Last year, very few of them turned red before school started and that's just not fun for me.  I want fresh tomatoes in July, not September.  So, I'm planning to grow 1 cherry tomato plant and then I'll just plan to use farmer's markets over the summer for fresh tomatoes.  Once our frost date passes (they say May 1st), I'm going to plant bell peppers, cucumbers (tons), cherry tomato, and herbs.  I may grow 1 zucchini plant, but I'm not sure.  For fun for the kids, we'll be planting pumpkins and watermelons in a different area of the yard.  They took up way too much prime garden space last year and I'd much rather have an abundance of cucumbers.  

Ok--and here's some recent pictures of the kids since I completely stink at blogging these days.  

the boys hiking

hiking fun

matthew, catherine, and an elephant

catherine and i on another hike

took the kids for a long walk--including our first time going in the walkway over the highway! 

Catherine enjoying some alone time while the boys napped.

She's obsessed with climbing.

The kids and I all in stripes!