yes, i garden

How does your garden grow?

In March I "landscaped," and I use that term loosely, our little patch of land directly behind the house. I had no idea what to expect from the things I planted. In fact, I began with the thought that this would be a learning process for me, and I expected to have to replace over 50 percent of it, if not more. I did it all under the watchful eye of the neighbors. I think that they approved; although, one person did not like the mulch and suggested that it would grow mold. Only time will tell . . . however, lookie here:

March 2009

August 2009

Not a single plant was added between March and August; some were, however, removed. We were gone for a great deal of the summer and relied on the kindness of neighbors to "tend the garden." I laid a watering hose along with a black ground cover under the mulch, making watering as simple as turning on the spigot. They watered when they remembered. The plants grew, profusely. They are still growing, with no insecticides and no fertilizer. My goodness, look at the olive tree!


This rose bush started as a stick of plant packed in sawdust that I selected at the commissary. It is absolutely huge now & continues to blossom and blossom. I thought that roses were difficult?

I put two of the tiniest lavender plants available into the ground. Now I have bushes, bushes that the bees love.

The crepe myrtle was a leafless, seemingly lifeless stick bunch when I planted it. I doubted that it was even alive, but the gardener assured me. I bought a crepe myrtle because is reminds me of the Southern US. I miss that place.


In the other patch of land, Mr. Duncan attempted a vegetable garden. He planted a few things, but the cherry tomatoes have been the most successful.

A Little Cherry Tomato Jungle

The red pepper plants are making veggies, but they are not fairing well. Ferruccio told me that his plants didn't do well this year either.


The little science experiment that we started here was indeed a success. We missed the best days of the giant sunflowers, but Mr. Duncan is thinking of harvesting the seeds. Any suggestion?

I think I have earned the right to say: "Oh, yes, I garden." (I won't mention the incredible fertility of the land in these parts.)

PS. The pomodorini are the perfect taste of summer.