i had a good run in illinois. and then we moved to california. while i am in love with this beautiful place and i think it might be very similar to the climate we will encounter in heaven (giggle), it hasn't been kind to my inner gardener. i think that in the three years that we have lived here, i have produced about three tomatoes, 1 cucumber and a pepper or two. it has been a sad state of affairs. i was frustrated for a bit, but then chalked it up to the fact that that the sun intensity thing here was just too difficult to figure out. since i couldn't figure it out, i would simply enjoy it. because, let's face it, a 90 degree day on the first of may is sort of amazing to this girl. no need to be frustrated. i'll just embrace the pure joy of it.
and i have. truly, i have. i joined a csa and moved on.
but this year, our csa changed their framework a bit and our back yard was sort of begging us to give it a makeover. we were going to be without grass and without veggies. i need fresh ripe tomatoes. i do. i really do.
and so a few months ago, i got a bee in my bonnet and urged the hubs to join me in covering up the dirt that was our backyard. we traded in some space that was formerly a garden bed and replaced it with some glorious sod. we also transplanted everything that was in the front and put it in the back. our sun situation in the front yard is ever changing and my first attempts at planting a curbside bed was sort of lackluster.
it was hard work, but together, we accomplished the task. our mini-backyard makeover was a success (at least as of right now. i'm not holding my breath- just celebrating in the moment). my hubs seems to love it, too.
if you don't believe me... well, the proof is in the pudding picture below.
about two years ago, my friend dawn and i went to the alameda antique faire. if you haven't been, you should go. it is wonderful. there are rows and rows of beautiful treasures, with a view of the bay in the background. but i digress. on the way out of alameda, we saw a sign for a plant nursery selling "natives". dawn asked me to stop. i was game.
and for the next half hour or so, we wandered through this plant nursery filled with native california plants. who knew? apparently, dawn knew. in fact, she knew so much that she had just planted her own native garden. i was skeptical. mostly, because i have stunk at this california gardening thing. but for two years, i have watched her garden grow. i have seen her passion for the plant flourish into a beautiful garden. it really is lovely.
and so this year, as we removed our front bed and transplanted it to the back, i made a decision. i decided that i was going to take a risk on this california native plant thing. mostly, because i couldn't get an image out of my head of a plant that i had seen that day after the alameda antique faire. i couldn't shake the beauty of this plant that we saw that day and i just needed to have one of my very own. it was delightful and so special to me in every way.
am i really getting this excited about plants? yup. i never knew i could. but i have. i check on them several times a day and delight in their new growth (indications that they might actually live). i research them on line. i've been planning trips to this special natives nursery (really, they have their own special nurseries! you can't find these at home depot.).
and so imagine my delight when i stepped out my front door this morning and discovered that the very first native that i fell in love with had bloomed on my very own curb!
introducing matty... or the matilija poppy if you want to get technical. i can't even say that, so i just call her matty. i love her. isn't she spectacular? don't tell me if you don't agree. just agree.
and as for tomatoes. this year i invested in a new product. they're like earth boxes but sell for half of the price... called city pickers. they are doing all of the work for me... i bought a bunch of starters at about 4 inches high each. this is what they look like today:
i think it is fair to say that we are going to have tomatoes this year. you never know. but here's to hoping!
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