In the Garden || Branching Out

June 30, 2014

{ roxy }

Summer is in full swing which means things are changing on a daily basis in the garden. I thought it was high time for a garden update.

Since my last post, my potted herbs started to go down hill -- even with the fresh soil they had clearly outgrown their planters and after stumbling upon this in my Pinterest feed I felt way more confident about planting them in my new garden bed.

The results? They are all thriving! Everything has exploded and not one plant seems to be suffering from lack of sun. The greens I started are exceptionally happy -- it's the perfect temperature and amount of sunlight for them down there. Even after all of our hot sunny weather, none of my lettuce plants have bolted! I'm so thrilled -- it opens up so much possibility. Elsie and I harvested our first head of lettuce yesterday -- we were so proud.

{ perennial arugula }

{ Italian parsley }

The heat loving herbs have a new home in the front of the house in a huge terracotta pot that's been empty for years. We live in attached townhouses where our front door is set back creating a little alcove that heats up like a green house in the morning sun. It's the perfect place for basil.

{ spearmint, parsley, peppermint, basil, nasturtiums }

There is a small garden bed next to the front door as well that has existing plants that I am not allowed to remove, beds like this are maintained by the maintenance company. However I've found a little path of paving stones along the bed that were hidden by foliage and I've tucked two pots there to take advantage of the green house effect.

{ Mr Fig }

{ seedless cucumber }

This year I decided to tidy up all of my succulent planters -- they are my babies and have been with me for over a decade. I've collected many of the plants from cuttings on hikes or from friends gardens or gardens where I've lived so each plants has a story and means something to me.

I took a little vacation to see my sister in Penticton. While I was away my sweet neighbor watered my plants and let me tell you -- I think they like her better than me because by the time I returned my planters were exploding with new growth! I don't think I've ever seen them looking so good!