Some Summer in the Backyard

Is it just me?
Is anyone else so glad it's summer??
My heart is a little lighter.  I am a little more relaxed, enjoying the freedom from school right now, the time to get a few things done, and a chance to enjoy being outside.
There are lots of things growing in the yard this year.  I'd really like to buy out the local nurseries!

While we were in Ohio, our green beans came up.  When we left, there wasn't anything above ground.  A few days later, voila!

This is the first year the hydrangea bloomed.  In the past couple of years, deer have eaten the blooms.  Don't know why they have left it alone this year.  I love walking by this one!

Impatiens are one of my favorite flowers but we have very little shade in our back yard.  I put a few in pots and set them around the yard in the shadiest spots.  (like in that first picture)

Another favorite thing:  these hummingbirds that are coming around.  It seems like there are only two but we see them more and more.

Spring Garden

And the garden begins.
We finally got our spring plants out today.  The ones we've been tending for several weeks now.  It will be extra gratifying if they make it!
I was afraid we might be late planting but I did a little research and I think we're just fine.

The kids dug up weeds,

turned up the soil,

and played in the dirt.

We set out lettuce, broccoli, and sweet peas.

Hopefully we'll get some good return for our work.

The Plants

  

So here is the beginning of our garden.  Right now we have 30 plants growing.  A few need to be separated.  We have 18 more that have just been planted in the last few days so they haven't germinated yet.  These plants are kind of a nice distraction.  The kids help water them and I spend a good bit of time turning them and moving them to be sure they're all getting enough light.  Kind of fun.

It reminds me of a book I loved when I was a kid.  I have a copy of it somewhere (and have had it since second grade) but I haven't seen it in a while, meaning a few years.  Hopefully it's in a box somewhere because when I was looking around for an image of it, I saw that it's a good $20 for a used paperback copy.  And the prices went way up.  If your library has it, get it.  It's a good one.

Looking forward to a slow week- no CC prep anymore!  And to a baby shower this weekend for my newest nephew- due the end of next month!

Enjoy the day!

Beginning the Garden

This past weekend we spent some time planting seeds for our summer garden.  Last year, we were either given plants or we bought them.  This year, we're hoping to grow our own plants.  Some have already shown a little life above the dirt!  So, they are by the sunniest window in the house now.  We were just given a florescent light (it's big huge!) which we'll probably use most of the time to maximize light exposure.

Getting the seed packets out.

Jack's one job: to pound some holes in the bottom of our "planters."

Dropping in cucumber seeds.

Covering seeds with dirt.

Kayla wants to have her own garden.

Little helpers.

I think we'll do another set in a few weeks but for now, it's a good start.