It’s been a few weeks since I’ve taken you outside for a little tour, so I thought it was time for an update.
First of all, here’s the world out front.
I won my little battle against the weeds in the path and we’ve trimmed up some of the hedges. There’s a fun hot-pink something-or-other blooming now. So yay for the front of the house!
Now onto the veggie garden.
I’ll be honest with you. When I was editing these photos last night, I was wondering why I was even sharing them at all. There’s not much of a ta-da here.
In fact, some of these are downright embarrassing. The weeds! The cucumber beetle damage!
Oh, those cucumber beetles. Two weeks ago, I didn’t even know what they were. Then one morning I found about 20 on each of my pumpkins, squash, cucumbers, melons, etc. I tried the old soap and water trick. That did nothing. I tried a slightly harsher, but still natural store-bought spray. Nope. Then I got up the courage to try the “squish their little bodies and leave the carcasses on the leaves so that it smells like death to them” method.
I wore gloves, but I still screamed the whole time. I’m not going lie. At least out here, there’s no one to hear me! So I just scream away as much as I need to in order to get the job done.
I don’t know if it was really my bug killing or not, but after a few days, I saw a lot fewer beetles on my plants. And now there are hardly any at all. I trimmed back most of the damaged parts and look! We have zucchinis growing! I think that means I may have done something right! I think they might survive!
So why am I showing you photos of my sad-looking plants? Is this supposed to motivate you to go out and create a beautiful garden of your own? Well, maybe, but probably not. But also, maybe your garden looks like mine. And maybe you know nothing about gardening and it’s a learning experience for you too. So maybe you’ll realize that you’re not the only one with a half-successful garden in a bloggy world where we only show off our best. I just love getting a little taste of reality up in here every now and then.
Or maybe your garden doesn’t look like mine. Maybe it’s thriving and full and weedless and maybe this will help you realize how much you’ve learned in your gardening pursuits and how much you really do know. And maybe you’ll share some of that knowledge with me!
One day I’ll be just like you, Experienced Gardener Lady. And this is how I’m getting there.
Don’t worry. I did pull that weed after I saw it in this photo.
People have been checking up on our garden. They drive by and report back to Chris’ parents. They’ve been saying nice things. I know they just can’t see all the weeds from the road, but it does make me feel encouraged.
If it wasn’t looking so good, I know we’d hear about it. “So, I hear you’re having a little trouble with the old garden, there.” With a little wink and a smile. Or something like that. Because we’re those crazy kids with the too-big garden who moved here from the city and suddenly we think we’re little farmers or something. But they don’t say that! They just say it’s looking good!
And we have corn! I can’t wait until the rows get to be really tall. I don’t know what it is with me and corn fields, but I just love them.
This. This view is what makes me feel like it’s all not so bad. The leeks and the broccoli and the cauliflower. They’re all just as happy as can be.
Can you tell my mind is just spinning? Can you tell I have 1001 thing to show you and tell you all about this garden? Can you tell I’m lost and hopeful and overwhelmed and a little proud all at the same time?
I guess that’s why the only way I can sum it up is to say: Yup, it’s a learning experience.
And the season’s really only just getting started.
Courtenay Hartford is the author of creeklinehouse.com, a blog based on her adventures renovating a 120-year-old farmhouse in rural Ontario, Canada. On her blog, Courtenay shares interior design tips based on her own farmhouse and her work as founder and stylist of the interior photography firm Art & Spaces. She also writes about her farmhouse garden, plant-based recipes, family travel, and homekeeping best practices. Courtenay is the author of the book The Cleaning Ninja and has been featured in numerous magazines including Country Sampler Farmhouse Style, Better Homes and Gardens, Parents Magazine, Real Simple, and Our Homes.