I write blogs in my head...

So, we do tend to go almost every day for a bit of watering and weeding...Then I make mental lists of all the garden things to do...I'm thankful for the rain, but it's amazing what happens when you go a few days without going. The arugala had shot up. Still edible, but long shoots indicate what...that we better pick and eat or the salad days are over? We've been picking some greens and herbs but you guys better get in on it, too! Cilantro's abundant. I provisonally "staked" tomatoes with some branches I found en route to the garden (Jordi in stroller). We've eaten a few strawberries, but hope they spread next year. There are already wee green tomatoes and quite big peppers. I keep meaning to replant where the carrots didn't come up and that space next to it. The scientist in me longs to be more systematic about this, the artist defers to Steph and the mother says "just do your best".

Posts needed for tomatos

I had promised to bring some bamboo for the tomatoes, but have yet to do so. This is just to let everybody know that I haven't completely forgotten. The tomatoes will be needing some staking.

Did someone say wheelchair!?

No, in fact, as Lucho pointed out, it's hard to imagine a wheelchair making it into the garden and around. More likely these raised beds are for those who have a harder time bending over. Suits me!

No extra trip today

Not passing by the garden this fine monday evening. Given the rain yesterday I imagine that both the Tub and Ladela are quite fine.

Main garden care

Steph and I also passed by the LAdela plot and did some basic weeding (with a hoe). Honestly, what weeds were there weren't providing any competition to the well-established plants already there. Also, the fabulous rain made it unnecessary to do watering. Everything is looking good.

The Tub

We've planted our new 1/4 garden, affectionately called "the tub". I think it's "bac" in French, but that's too similar to our back yard garden, so the Tub it is. When you're walking to the garden up Bordeaux, it's the second one that you come across. basically the other end of the garden from LAdela.

Here's a picture of the Tub after planting:


You can see that there are strawberries, some flowers, some dill, chamomile, peppers (hot and bell), and basil and tomatoes off in the distance.

And just for fun here's an image of the garden from the Tub:

Garden tub

The other good news is that Steph and I have received a "garden tub" - something on the west fence. I gather (from talking with Lucho and Steph J.) that it's one of the wheelchair-friendly spots; raised beds.

This is great news! We have our foot in the door, officially, and are still in line for a regular size plot.

What to plant? Suggestions welcome. I am thinking about some basil - can never have too much, eh? any other suggestions? Steph J. thought about some flowers to spruce up our respective abodes.

Spontaneous watering event

Steph did some watering on Wednesday evening. I know this should be communicated in a more timely fashion, but we're getting the hang of this blog too!

This is from the first week on the garden plot. Lots of ladela watering since.

not sure how to do this...

So, I've named our blog "Ladela", after spending a very short amount of time looking for clever plays on the word grow...So, what does it mean? Flower and Water and Butterfly, in Jordi-speak (sometimes sounds more like "dadela..."). He says it when we pass the garden.

I have no idea how other people will access this or who gets to see it, but I just wanted to start keeping a record.

Today, I had the most un-Zen garden session. I planted 12 basil plants where the seeds are not coming up in about 5 minutes, interruped several times by chasing after Jordi who was picking chive flowers from other people's gardens (smelling them and offering them to me to smell) and pulling out garden ornaments, etc. etc. So, a bit of a messy planting job, but I think they'll grow.

Garden looks great after Steph x 2 did a mega-weeding session while Jordi napped yesterday. The only iffy seedlings were carrots (some, but not obvious rows, randomly coming up); italian parsley (not up yet?); and basil (hence, the plants)...I will do a more thorough accounting of all this later, but I wanted to get started on blogging.

So, here goes posting...and then figure out how Lucho and Peter and Steph J. can also access it.