Planting the Garden

We planted our garden a week ago and are so excited to watch it grow! As you can see, we started from scratch on our new lot. We cleared about a 35' x15' area of our back/side yard and tilled in a couple inches of composted mink manure. We will continue to amend the soil each year, but that in itself made it so much richer! It also helped that we raked out mounds and mounds of rocks.

At the front we made 7 rows for planting seeds. In order from front to back, they are peas (half sugar, half snap), radishes, carrots, beets, bush beans, lettuce mix, and spinach.

I planted my peas and radishes about 3 weeks ago so we are starting to see those seeds sprout. I am always amazed by the miracle of life!

I bought some adorable vintage spoon garden markers for my mom this year (here on etsy) and I am wishing I had some of my own. Gardens can be decorated too, right? In fact someday we would love to beautify this area greatly by adding split-rail fencing, trellises for climbing flowers and grapes, and stepping stones for easier access.

We also bought and planted all of our starts. We made it a family affair and Maddie loved helping plant the basil, sweet peppers, and jalapenos.

I love baby plants. Let's document here how small they start and then I'll take pictures as they get gargantuan. Above is a tiny cucumber and below are the zucchini and yellow crookneck. They look so small and innocent right now... you just wait.



We transplanted 3 strawberries from our old house for sentimental purposes, and added one new one to make a small row.

We also planted these small onions, 6 tomatoes (Early Girl, Better Boy, Champion, and Jet Star), pumpkins, and cantaloupe. There is room at the back for more, but I think we'll start small this year and see if we can keep up!

It has been raining buckets all week so it's been nice to not have to water the new seeds. I was almost afraid they would wash away... the rows were almost submerged at one point... but I think the rain was good for establishing things. Now we just need some sunshine!

Noni's Tulip Festival

I gave in and answered the siren call of my gardens in the spring... and was well rewarded. They will always be magical to me.











Thanksgiving Point's Tulip Festival is only a few minutes north of me and I'm sure it's beautiful, but I suppose I am biased. Nothing quite compares. And my gardens are free.

Shade Garden Inspiration

You may remember that our new house faces north. I know I will love having a south facing back yard, but it poses some challenges for gardening in the front. The beds right up against the house get very little sunlight so I have been researching plants that grow in shade. I want lush foliage and color, not just puny plants that are hanging on for dear life, reaching for the rays. I need something that will really grow and flourish there.

I think most people have a shady spot in the garden, whether it's under the canopy of shade trees or in the shadow of the house or other structures. I hope I can give you some ideas to make those areas spectacular! Each of the selections listed does well in shade or part sun and prefers moist soil, and they are perennials unless I specify otherwise. I know I am going to be on the lookout for these beauties every chance I get!

Many of the following pictures are from the Better Homes and Gardens Plant Encyclopedia. It is a great online resource and might just save you from buying some garden books. The other pictures are from my archives at the Noni gardens.

No shade garden is complete without the queen of shade herself... hostas! I already planted one hosta in my shade bed, but I am on the lookout for more varieties like this variegated one above. In the summer many hostas send up tall, graceful shoots with purple flowers.

I also planted a few of these beautiful Bleeding Hearts. They are a must-have for me because they remind me of home. These only bloom for about a month in the spring, but the show is worth it! The foliage wilts in the heat and can be cut back to the ground.

Astilbe or False Spirea are show stoppers! Check out those vibrant plumes! I can't wait to get my hands on some of these.

Brunnera or False-Forget-Me-Not are so lacy and delicate. I love the periwinkle blue color. These are definitely one of my favorite.

Corydalis is an impressive hue for a shade perennial. I am not very familiar with this one but love the burst of yellow.

Hellebore is also known as the Christmas Rose. The flowers last all summer and are very hardy and supposedly easy to grow.

In the Noni shade gardens I was always enthralled by the color spectrum of Japanese Painted Fern, from their deep purple spines to green and silvery leaves. They also offer such interesting texture for a shade garden.

Monkshood spires are reminiscent of foxglove or delphinium. The purple flowers bloom in the late summer, making these perfect for a last splash of color.

Pulmonaria or Bethlehem Sage is a beautiful low-growing ground cover. I love the bi-color leaves and the flowers ranging from magenta to deep purple.

Lamium or dead nettle is also a ground-cover, with small spires of flowers that come in white or pink.

I have never seen this one personally but I love the showy flowers of Japanese Toad Lilies. They almost look like orchids they are so delicate and perfect.


If you still need a seasonal pop of color for your shade beds, here are some annual ideas.

Begonias are actually perennial tubers in warmer climates, but here in Utah they have to be planted annually. They come in many colors and single and double blooms.

One of my favorite summer annuals is Coleus. They have inconspicuous blooms but their foliage is gorgeous! They come in an impressive array of colors and varieties.



Last but not least, every shade garden should have impatiens. These are a great staple and also come in many colors ranging from red to pink to white.

Well folks, that's all for now... I'm off for a weekend of work outside!

Yard Tour and TRUCK!

Since I don't have spring flowers of my own to display, here are my Mom's!


I love dainty Forget-me-nots.



Basket of Gold (Aurinia) is gorgeous. Add that to my list of things to plant for next spring.


Check out these double tulips!

While we were visiting Mom we went to a favorite nursery and picked out some hanging baskets for my Mother's Day flowers.


Now for the grand finale... we are proud owners of a new (old) truck! My dad gave us his '69 Ford for $1 and a back rub! Mike has been wanting an old truck to use for hauling bark or sprinkler pipe, so this is perfect! We already had a neighbor tell us he was jealous.

I drove this beauty many times in high school. It took me to school, my ACT's, and on countless trips to the drive-in. It's almost like a family member came to live with me. Here are some cool pictures Mike took a couple years ago:



Yay for our newest gardening 'tool'!