Our 1st Garden

I have been wanting a garden for the girls for the past two-three years. We didn't have a garden for two reasons: first of all, I didn't want to tear up the grass we worked so hard to get after building the house, secondly, Kevin kept telling me that we couldn't plant a garden where I wanted it because the house behind ours has a black walnut tree...I guess black walnut trees make the soil toxic to other plants because they don't like any competition for nutrients.

Well, some friends of ours, who just happen to be 2nd generation nursery/landscape specialists, had the perfect suggestion for us...a container garden! I took just one look at their beautiful container garden and I was sold! They had lush strawberry plants growing all around the ground where their containers were placed, so it was so beautiful and functional. We have missed the strawberry planting season for this year, but hope to get close to the same effect with our own containers of tomatoes, green peppers, green beans, cantaloupe, and pumpkins. We chose a section near the back of the property where we had recently cleared out a wooded area. It was in need of some lovin'...the garden would be perfect! Our hope is that the cantaloupe and pumpkin vines will trail down the containers and spread out along the ground around the containers...like our friends' strawberry plants did.

We were all pretty excited to get this garden going. We are getting a bit of a late start this spring, but that's okay. We should still be able to yield a decent harvest...just a little later in the summer. Here are some pics of Kevin and the girls working away...

Katelyn showing off for the camera...the girl doesn't have a shy bone in her body!

FYI...Did you know that planting marigolds around your garden plants will help keep the insects away? Another valuable tip from our gardening friends, the Scotts of Knollwood Garden Center. Each of our containers have some lovely marigolds too, which adds to the beauty:)