#4 - Feeding the garden, feeding my soul!

So we've crossed off #35 and #22 off of the list, and part of #1.  I'm also busting my butt at the gym to accomplish #9, and am looking at plans for Memorial Day weekend to tackle #8.

Now for #4, de-cat poop the flower bed and plant flowers.  Now, besides the fact it smells like a litter box in front of my condo, I actually adore gardening.  There is something about it that feeds my soul differently than any other hobby.  The air outside, the sunshine, the earth, the smell of the soil and the flowers.  Planning the garden, digging, removing the grass and weeds and replacing with the plants you've chosen.  I love transforming the scenery and creating a warm and inviting space outdoors to enjoy and to welcome people into my home.  And...I enjoy the work.  I've dug up large areas of lawn on more than one occasion in order to create a flower bed where there wasn't one before.  I like working hard and earning something beautiful on the other side.  The muscles, the sweat, the blistered hands, stabbing my shovel into the ground, moving the dirt, spreading it around...the rhythm, the breath, the stopping to see how far you've come. 

Then plant.  Dig, plant, cover, pat-pat.  Water, watch, and see.  Sprouting, growing, blooming.  Bright and shiney flowers, fragrant breezes, smiles. 

Unless you have stray cats planting something ELSE in your flower bed.  Halt surreal daydream of daisies and roses.  Time to get to work!  Come along with us in my first gardening adventure with my babes.

First things first: gardening gloves.  They're a good idea anyway, but especially when you've got kitty terds hangin' around.  It's toxic, yo!  Not only would I like to keep it off my own skin, I definitely don't want my kiddos diggin' in it!  So, new gloves for all!

Alec picked "gween wit buggies."

He had a hard time getting all his fingers in the right holes, but managed to keep them on his hands while working with his new "shobul."  He's actually holding Aidan's rake in this picture.  You can be sure big bubba corrected him in due time.

Mommy picked greens.  I know, big surprise!

Aidan picked "catta pillahs."

Notice the ninja sword is still in place, just in case of attack.

This is a serious 4 year old, ready to get down to business.

And here's our before picture.  You can't smell what we can smell, but the feline excrement is in there, along with weeds and debris and disgustingness.

There is, however, a little corner of friendlies that bloomed this last week.  So my little flower bed isn't TOO far gone.  Just slightly neglected, and well, we've covered the other part.

As usual, I've probably bitten off more than I can chew.

It turned out we really just needed to rake off the top layer of junk and dig up the weeds, rather than literally dig up the entire bed.  It was far less disgusting than i thought it would be!  Aidan was really into this (for about 5 minutes).

Alec was too, though significantly less effective.  He loves to actually say cheese the entire time I'm taking the picture.  Love this kid! 

All raked out...

Now, filling with some custom potting soil with mulch mixed in.  It smells amazing!  My picture of it though is not so amazing.  Sorry for the fuzz, kids.

Kids are working real hard with a dandilion.  Sadly they never blew it out...

Back to work for Mom...
 

And the kids decide it's time for a break.  Peanut butter crackers and orange soda.  Can't beat that!

And now, the finishing touch.  Take this kitty!  Dog and cat repellant and an herb called rue, which I've been told cats HATE.  That's what I'm talkin' about friends!

And...drumroll please...
 Tada!!  Yes, I know it's not much but it's a start.  Some green plant (sorry I don't know the name - I just liked the way it looked), marigolds, and mini gerbers.  I adore gerbers, and now I have my own to grow!  What a great feeling of satisfaction.  I went back outside several times that night after the kids fell asleep to admire my little patch of success!

What fun.  I'm looking foreward to planting some moneywort and vinca around the other side of that little privacy wall, and among the trees that curve around the other side of my porch.  Who knows?  Maybe we'll get some tomatoes, peppers, and herbs in there too!

Comments

[Amy Manning]

Missy, I love your flower bed--it looks great! :)

[Missy Rose]

thank you, dear friend! hopefully, there's more to come. i'd love to keep adding to it and really make something lovely!

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=502795629]

Henry said something like 'Whoa!' or 'Yay!' when he saw the finished product. Even his naive eyes could tell the glory of your garden. Well done friend!

[Missy Rose]

thanks hankie! maybe i should send HIM some gardening gloves and a shobul!

[mama hussy]

Love it!!
Keep their hands in the dirt!!! SO GOOD FOR THEM!!!
Where are you planting this garden?? It looks great!!
And what dogs and cats destroy your garden? I have never heard of such. Terrible!! Even using chemicals to keep the little shizs out??? Jeepers!!

[mama hussy]

Those "greens" are Hastas, they are GREAT!!! One of my fave EASIES!!! AND they come back!! MY STYLE!! hehe.

[Missy Rose]

yes, they had so much fun! we're going to keep it up, hopefully plant some herbs and veggies. this is just my little flower bed right in front of my condo. quite a bit of space, and i can pretty much do what i want with it! STRAY kitties in the complex use my flower bed like a litterbox - for serious. it's disgusting! i don't like using the chemicals either, which is why i bought the rue. hopefully the spray will give us a little kick start, and i'll only use when absolutely necessary - it doesn't smell all that great either!!

oh i love hastas! mom and chip have those, and they're gorgeous when they get big and bloom. i didn't recognize them so small. i'm SO glad to know they're gonna get big on me, yay!! greezie, what are easy herbs and veggies for me to start out with?

[Missy Rose]

and greer, i did pick a spray that says "all natural" if that's good for anything!!

[mama hussy]

Oh, you'll do great at all herbs!! You have that green thumb, I have NO DOUBT!!! But some yummy ones that I think you would cook with and you would also LOVE the aromas of (like just putting them in a small vase in the house) are Basil, Oregano, Sage, Mint... Those are a good 4-some to start with. There is a "new" Lavender that will allow you to water it as much as you wanna water your other plants. And won't die (drown). Try that too!!!