I don’t get to garden very often. Usually, I plant flowers my wife likes a couple times a year, and in March I plant flowers and vegetables.
Yesterday my wife and I went to the Green Arrow nursery and purchased flowers, peppers, squash, herbs, and tomato plants. This morning I planted them, the flowers in the front yard and the veggies in back.
What was exciting today was that I felt like an artist as I was deciding where to plant what, and as I was actually planting. As the artist, I stood back before I planted to gain perspective on where to plant each item. Then I dug a hole, mixed the planting soil with the yard soil, gently placed the plant in the soil, dug a shallow trench around each veggie to allow water to accumulate there, judiciously added plant food and, finally, I watered the entire vegetable garden area. My canvas was completed.
I am glad I started my project early, 7:30 a.m. When I finished my planting at 10:40, I still had energy. I decided to clean up the east side of the house. Believe it or not, I had used that side as a junk pile for years. I always felt a bit guilty about that, but now my guilt was assuaged in an hour and a half. I felt happy and proud of my accomplishment.
Perhaps it is because I enjoy my tree hobby so much that I really felt a passion for the plants. I suppose that makes sense. My friends, the trees, helped me realize I was dealing with their cousins, the flowers and vegetables.
I hope the plants forgive me because I asked the expert at the nursery yesterday how much space to leave between the tomatoes and other plantings. He said two feet. I decided, however, to experiment with a one-foot distance because my garden area is small. Maybe if I am extra kind to the plants they won’t mind being crowded.
I am sure we will recoup more from our garden this year than we spent at the nursery. Why? Because this happy gardener’s plants will provide enjoyment to us as we watch them grow and develop. I almost don’t want to eat them.
Mr. Ebsen may be contacted at Robertebsen@hotmail.com
