Thursday, April 23, 2009

New Life...


I suppose I should confess that I tend to have a black, or at the very least, brown thumb.

My gardening successes have been few and far between...

I couldn't even manage to keep potted plants alive when I was younger. Well, with the notable exception of a 99 cent supermarket plant that I coined "P.D." in honor of its polka-dotted leaves... I'll tell you of P.D.'s demise on another occasion... it's too sad for right now.

Between the fact that I couldn't seem to keep (already growing!) plants alive and my indoor-loving nature, I am not a natural gardener.

But last year, for Mother's Day, I asked for a few vegetable plants from the local nursery. And you know what? I managed to harvest some of my own tomatoes, spinach, and broccoli. I cannot begin to tell you the joy and pride I felt.

Armed with that small success, I decided to attempt to start my own plants from seeds this year. I confess that I used seeds I bought on clearance at the end of last season. My TOTAL investment in materials was less than five dollars. I figured... honestly? If ONE thing turns out, it will have been worth it.

I carefully planted those seeds with my 4-year old assistant. We faithfully watered and watched. He delighted in keeping me updated on what was growing and what wasn't... truly, we've gotten our five dollars' worth just in the experiences we have shared together thus-far.

Today? We have lots of baby plants... tomatoes, corn, spinach, lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumbers, parsley, carrots, and the peas pictured above. When we saw our pea plants growing ever taller, growing tendrils, and- just recently- bursting into flower... well, there was much celebrating.

Having a part in creating new life... even if it's just from pea seeds... well, that's one of the great joys of life.
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This post is linked to Amy's Finer Things Friday.

3 comments:

Suz said...

Garden plants much easier to care for than indoor plant! I have semi-green thumb and find that even I have problems with indoor plants... lost one of my favs this winter.

Garden plants are subject to the outdoors, but they are typically better faired in most climates & indoor plants are meant for tropics. Garden plants get much of their water from the rain too... hence less forgetting to water them.

Hope your gardening season goes well this year :) Good luck!

Amy @ Finer Things said...

*sigh* My black thumb is proving itself at the moment. My seedlings - didn't quite make the indoor to outdoor transition. So... plan B. I'll go get some starters at the nursery. More expensive, but still way cheaper than buying green peppers and tomatoes in the dead of winter!

But this isn't about me. YAY for you and your LIVING plants! ;-)

Goat Gal said...

Oh they are so sweet! The picture you post makes me want to talk to those tiny little plants. What a weirdo I am eh?