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Trying Out My Green Thumb

I’ve always wanted a garden, a great big garden. The trouble is…I’m not much of a gardener. I just wish I was. I wish I was like Sam. Sam was somewhat of a grandfather to me. The only one I really knew. My mother ‘s father passed before I was born, and my father’s father passed when I was four or five. Sam was my “grandfather” from the time I was born. My grandmother would never marry him, “because  you only get married once!” He had an incredible garden every summer. Tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, zucchini, squash, peppers, sunflowers. Enormous.

sams garden

Back to the garden. Here is Sam’s garden. An abundance of fresh vegetables. The fresh tomatoes, sliced, and still hot from the summer sun. Oh how I miss them. Gram’s house always smelled of roasting peppers (or in Rhode Island it sounds more like pep-iz) all summer long. That smell still reminds me of her. I’ve been wanting a garden since we bought the house. I just haven’t gotten around to it and there is the problem of Avery, the dog who pees on EVERYTHING! Seriously, everything!

I had to come up with a both strategic and inexpensive plan. Work with nature…I gathered rocks from around the yard and I built a stone wall. I’m really hoping this keeps Mr. Pee Machine out. I may have to put up some fencing as well, but so far he’s stayed away. I left it like this for a couple weeks just to be sure. I think we’re good.

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I got the plants and into the soil they went. Now I just have to make sure I don’t water them too much because I really don’t want nasty moldy veggies. I need to make sure I water them enough or they’ll just die. Hopefully I didn’t plant things too close together. I haven’t a clue what I’m doing. I do know I have to get those tomato cage things.  I’m really excited about this…I’ll keep you posted. I would really like this to work out and build a bigger one next year. Fingers crossed. Wish me luck!

garden (3)

Do you have a green thumb? What do you like to have in your summer garden?

17 thoughts on “Trying Out My Green Thumb

  1. Good luck! I have herbs on my back deck in pots. The thyme bloomed all through an ice storm. I was never sure whether to be proud of it or scared of it. I hope you grow lots of good things!

  2. Haven’t gardened in years! Good luck! Used to live – briefly – in Providence’s East End on President Avenue; a little later I lived in Bristol, not far from Colt Park. Hope the Garden goes well!

  3. how I wish I had green fingers, but sadly mine are black! each year I try again and even if something does start to grow my chickens eat it!!! xxx

  4. I love this, Sheri. I love the story of your “somewhat” Grandfather! My paternal grandparents had a farm in Michigan (where I was born) with 80 acres of land, hard, hard work and the most incredible vegetables and fruits I could ever explain. I still remember riding the old, rumbling tractor with my Grandpa and picking strawberries with my Grandma. This is why I have my strawberry tattoo. Barry and I always have a tomato, pepper and cucumber garden and are ready to go to work on it this weekend. Thank you for this beautiful and inspiring post and I’m loving your garden!

  5. I do not have a green thumb but my kids keep asking to plant a garden (we live in a condo). You make it look so easy so maybe we’ll get a little planning box and try again this year! 🙂

  6. I love to garden, but it always feels empty because my Mom is so far away and that was always “our thing” when I was a kid. You have inspired me… maybe I’ll do more than weed my beds this year and actually plant something new!

  7. I do not have a green thumb and my husband’s is spring green. We’ve learned to grow tomatoes and peppers in pots on the deck (b/c deer get everything everywhere else) and that works for us. One day we will have time to roll our sleeves up and learn more. Let us know how it goes. Maybe I’ll learn something! Good luck!

  8. I plant one every summer. I’m really excited about it. I water. I weed. I wait. By July, I’ve become bored and it becomes a jungle. I just planted mine too. Here’s to hoping I keep up with mine! Looking forward to updates on yours!

  9. I wish you better luck with your garden than I’ve had! I have a ‘brown’ thumb, not green at all. My grandmothers, who both had gorgeous flower gardens, would be so ashamed of me! I know there are lots of gardening sites out there that might give you any advice you may need. May you have the patience to make your garden thrive. 🙂

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