Garden Space, Rediscovered

I have a confession to make. I almost shut down this part of our gardens. It seemed too far away from the house. Too hot. Too much bald sun. Too much to keep up with. Click on photos for larger peeks into this spot (disregarding, of course, the patchy lawn death that crept up on us during July).

Then, we did the Shared Backyard project. Phase One of the Garden Resuscitation.

Then, Willa discovered it. She loves running around it buck naked, plucking Sungold tomatoes and wild blackberries, watering, squealing, looking for bunnies (her friends, my foes).

Otis likes to have a role in the garden, too (note the black dot in the middle photo). He likes having a purpose and is somewhat of a working dog. He takes his role chasing the latest interloper - a groundhog - very seriously. Like Basset Hound/Border Collie seriously.

It gives us herbs all season (oregano, lemon balm, lavender, thyme, rosemary, sage, echinacea, chives, basil); rhubarb, broccoli, lettuce, greens and snap peas in the spring; and potatoes and tomatoes these days. A few things failed - like collards (too enticing for the wildlife) and the garlic (not sure what happened there . . . ). I would like to grow more so I can freeze, can and stock for the winter. But that will take time. And practice. And the minute detail of a fence.

Now, we are talking about building a small porch-type, lean-to down there for picnics and storage. For more lingering tucked among the growth and the overgrowth - in the middle of the smells and the sounds.

Life needs to happen around a garden. Good thing others have shown me that important detail. Thanks, y'all.

Scattershot

Sultry and hazy in the dell.

Small moments from our July . . .

Lodi apples. New to me this year. Tart applesauce in mid-summer from these small, pale green overlooked gems is fun. It is also a nice surprise and a reminder about upcoming autumn tastes.

As our Sugar Baby watermelons get ready for picking, I wonder about cocktails I can make with watermelon. Don't people inject melons with liquor and drink from that? Wait, is that something I saw in a moment of weakness on Jersey Shore? Whoops. There must be something more classy out there. A martini, perhaps? Or maybe I can do the injected watermelon thing in the privacy of my own home and nobody needs to know that I got the idea from Snooki.

An update on our Shared Backyards experience is over at Virginia Living Magazine's blog.

Learn how to can your summer haul with Leni. She is also offering classes on bread making and tamales. (Maybe I'll see you at the tamale class?)

My friend Sarah, who is also a rock star vegan, got me into Bento box lunches!

I'm a green mama, according to C-ville Weekly. Sweet.

I want to make this tomato cage lantern for my bedroom balcony.

When I am a little bored at work, I like to plug in dates on Expedia.com for a trip to Ireland. Just to see how much that would cost. Because I have all that money lying around and I love flying so much. But, I mean, Ireland. Right? I have this vision that the moment I land there, I am welcomed with open arms because I look like them. I am one of them. It can't be denied. My hair and fair skin no longer stand out. I easily assimilate into the folds of Ireland - the gardens, the countryside, the tea houses. It should be so.

Coming up in the garden: The garden goes off the ground for fall vegetable crops in the way of balcony and window box gardening. I hope.

Hither and Yon

Oh, spring in Charlottesville. Every time you show up, I am immediately transported back 20 years to when I first experienced you as an undergraduate at the University of Virginia. From there-on-in I was unable to settle for a springtime experience that was any less than spectacular (that also started in mid-March!).

On the home front - bulbs are blossoming, garlic is sprouting, rhubarb is peeking up out of the ground and the herb bed is coming to life (oregano, lemon balm, sage). Lettuce and arugula are pushing up through the soil in pale greens in the cold frame. Snap peas are reaching for the sky.

Our sweet community garden is full (all spots taken!) - and it is a thrill to hear people working out there, having fun and getting ready to grow their own food.

While a nasty cold waylaid me from the garden, I took solace in reading - Two Gardeners: A Friendship in Letters and Ruth Stout's No-Work Garden Book and another Ruth - a foodie Ruth - Ruth Reichl. Nothing like a few wise women to keep you company when you are feeling sorry for yourself.

We drove up to Monterey (also known as Virginia's Little Switzerland) for their Maple Festival this past Sunday. The drive alone was so needed - winding through towns like Churchville, Headwaters and McDowell and through George Washington National Forest. I realized later that it was the first time since September that I had left our area (?!). Returning with maple donuts and local maple syrup in a leaf-shaped bottle extended the visit into our evening at home.

I'm counting down the days to Historic Garden Week in Virginia. There is also an event at Monticello - Meet the Gardeners (as in Peter Hatch and Peggy Cornett! Eeeeep!) that looks like fun.

Unrelated to gardening, but smile-inducing : My new vintage-looking orange peep toe shoes, fresh-made pasta from Mona Lisa Pasta and visits to Charlottesville from two Bens (the first visited this past Tuesday, the second will be here in April).

Let's hear it for spring!

A Little Something Fun is Brewing

The Sugar Hollow Community Garden!

Vegetable garden coaching and full-sun plots available on our land. The plots are available in exchange for weeding the pathways and keeping the area under control. (No small task!) Garden coaching fees are accepted as donations and not expected. From an announcement that I sent out earlier:

Hi everyone,

I have several raised beds that could accommodate gardeners this season and am going to hold an informational meeting this Wednesday at 3 p.m. at my home. Based on the interest - we can decide on the size of each gardener's bed - but I am thinking at least 10' X 4' plots for beginners.

The beds are located in full sun with a water spigot next to them. They do need to be worked/weeded and compost needs to be added. But we can talk more on Wednesday about those details.

I am encouraging gardeners of *all* levels to take advantage of this - I am a horticulturist and organic garden coach - so will be available for questions and encouragement during the growing season on specific Saturdays. Beginners are very welcome.

Please email me (sugarholler@hotmail.com) if you are interested and I will send directions. We live about 11 miles west of town - almost a straight shoot if you take Barracks/Garth onto Sugar Hollow Road.

P.S. This venture is also very family friendly, including Wednesday's meeting. Also, there is a non-raised bed area that could be tilled and farmed, but that would be more labor intensive.