Ever since we moved into our home October 31st 2008, I have dreamed of having my own garden! I love the thought of having fresh veggies, herbs, and flowers growing at home. I have been working on becoming better and better at having lush plants in the Arizona desert. I am getting very close at accomplishing that goal. I found out that the key is water. Go figure! A drip system saved my sanity and my husband's faith in my gardening "skills." So, last year was really the kick off. Around Christmas time we had a tomato plant that took over and produced amazing tomatoes.
My aunt Kristi is holding her first successful pepper and if you look at the plant you will see all of the green tomatoes. Here is what they looked like when I picked them. (A lot were frost bitten. These are the survivors.)
This year I have yellow onions and various peppers growing.
Strawberries and, of course, more tomatoes.
I can't take all the credit. I do have some "helpers" who keep me on my toes.
Talon, Mouse, Stitch, and Sienna definitely bring life to a still garden. :)
Gardening is just another form of art, to me. It is only natural for me to incorporate art into the garden. Taking photographs of it is another guilty pleasure of mine. I find it very hard to leave the house now. I can spend hours outside watching the birds and just taking it all in.
I have playing with the idea of gardening from the window. In each room of my house I want to look out the window and see living art. I want to see a beautiful scene that will change with the seasons. This is my first go at it. My husband, Stephen, sits and works in our front room most of the day. I realized that all he saw was a cinder block wall out the window all day every day. Kristi said that we could invite birds, hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and geckos with a handful of elements. Right now it is in it's baby stage, but when it is full grown it will be a sight to see. The Arabian Jasmin will be as tall as the door and sprinkled with fragrant whit flowers next to the deep red poinsettia that I have had since last Christmas. Already he finds himself watching the birds playing in the water and throwing seeds everywhere. I wouldn't be surprised if sunflowers started growing from that.
This is my work station.
I saw this idea in a magazine recently. I love succulants and this was such an easy, fun, and beautiful garden art piece to make.
My brother, Tyler, is my partner in crime. We have put this backyard heaven together together. :) He built this amazing window table for me and helped me put the flower bed together. More pics will come of the paver slab he layed and pond he's constructing. He has been a huge part of creating all of this.
The centerpiece is my reminder of Washington state and my sister, Danielle, and her family. :)
This is the only wind chime Stephen likes. It doesn't make that much noise and it's stunning to look at.
Finally, this plant is called Firestick. It is so cool. When the temperature gets cooler it starts to turn orange and even to red. When it's hot outside it is green. Crazy, right? It also has very dangerous sap, so I have to be careful when I cut it back. Don't get in your eyes or it will blind you. Yikes! I am thankful that my animals have not tried to eat it. They know very few commands, but they know "Leave it!" And they do. So, that's it for now. I have burned thousands of calories putting this yard together. Maintaing it is calming and very good for me. Stephen enjoys it almost as much as I do. I think he is just happy that I am happy. :) More to come! This was only one side of the yard!
