Blessing In Disguise

As Alexis works on her backyard, I stare dreamily at my front yard. A couple days of raking and my front yard would be ready for the transplants awaiting in my sunroom (more on that later). I say "would" because the weather and my work schedule just can't seem to get it together. If I work during the day its 65* and gorgeous outside; if I have the day off and work at night then it rains and makes the leaves unworkable for the rest of the week. The amount of leaves in the front yard is overwhelming. Every time I look at them I want to have a tantrum. The previous non-outdoorsy folk who lived here have let them build up over the years. I was SUPER pissed off about this, grumbling the entire time I raked, until I realized that the multi-year buildup of leaves against the bordering fence line has decomposed into an incredibly rich top soil. Its perfect! The leaves rotting on the bottom have made a nutrient rich plant bed and the leaves on top have kept anything from growing in it; after I rake I will have a ready made garden. All I need to do is add some border material, stick some flowers in it and BAM! instant outdoor beauty.

A note on the mini indoor greenhouse thingie:

It works really well. But, hot flying biscuits, I started my bean plants WAY too early. They're about a foot tall already. Well, they would be if I could get them to stand up straight. How do I stake bean plants indoors? Its probably best I don't get that idea in my head. The nasturtiums haves started peaking up also, so cute with their little lily pad shaped leaves. One of my favorite flowers, every part of the plant is edible. Nasturtiums are known for their bright colors which are sometimes difficult to photograph; it will bloom from early spring to late fall and blooms more heavily the more flowers you cut so cut away! Nastas (I just made up that nickname, like it?) are also self seeding so wherever you plant them this year you can expect at least twice as many in the same place next year. I think they would be awesome in a mixed bed with Zinnias (my childhood favorite, thanks Mom <3) The only seeds not doing well in the greenhouse are the sweet pea seeds that I bought at the Jamaican grocery. I couldn't read the Korean writing on the package so maybe I missed something?