As I sit here writing this piece, I REALLY want to be outside. The weather here in Vegas is starting to get spring-like and I feel the need to take advantage of it just in case we get another cold snap. (Moment of Truth – we had a bad cold snap this winter and I had a pipe that actually burst because it froze!) I love to be outdoors and I thoroughly enjoy gardening. If you sneak into my backyard on a nice day, you will likely find me with headphones on, dancing around while I rake, dig or plant. It’s especially vibrant dancing in the spring and fall. Perhaps a throwback to a pagan ritual, perhaps just feeling good to have the sun on my body (don’t worry, I wear protective clothing), perhaps a combination of both.
Growing up in upstate NY, we had a garden. A big garden. We grew LOTS of stuff including the dreaded zucchini. I have one sister who still can’t stand it. Here in Vegas, my yard size dictates what I grow and my garden is more free form. I don’t have neat rows of plantings (odd for someone with a touch of OCD). I don’t have designated spots for certain things. There is a fig tree smack in the middle to provide shade to things that require a little sun protection and I have multiple patches of this and that, mainly herbs, throughout.
As I walked through the yard this morning with my tea, I realized the garden needed an overhaul. It’s a hot mess! I see a great deal of digging, planting, and cutting in my future. John already trimmed the fig and peach trees. Now for me to clear, rake and cut back to allow for new growth. Each year is a time for NEW GROWTH and this spring I am feeling it more than ever.
If you have proper irrigation you can grow almost anything here in the desert, but I try to be respectful of the environment. I only plant things I can eat. I don’t waste water on flowers in general. I use drought tolerant varieties when possible and try to choose plants that love the heat as a rule. If you don’t have the space to literally DIG in the dirt, have you thought about planters? I have grown plenty of great things in planters! Currently there is little growing besides a couple of fall planted crops that will result in harvest soon I hope!
So here’s to the humble gardener (or the farmer as the great Dodge commercial from this last weekend stated). Enjoy these pics.
The ever-invasive mint – no matter how much I remove, there is ALWAYS plenty for Mojitos!
Baby beet plants
Leeks – re-seeded from last year
Cilantro – it re-seeds itself if you don’t collect the coriander from the dried flowers.
