Our New Garden: Keeping Your Distance 11

It's never worked before.

My history of gardening/planting failures is legion.

I'm surprised we have any grass or plants at all.  Usually, they have to make it on their own. 

There are some people (too many) who, when they get a dog or cat, just set them out in the backyard, and occasionally fling out pet food or table scraps.  The "pets" survive on their own, or they don't.

That's the way I am with plants.  They're outside.  They can take care of themselves.


But Alison and Benjamin are home now.  Alison is on Spring Break, and even when over, she will have a significantly reduced schedule as school has been called off for the year.  Benjamin is home studying his college courses online.  Me?   I'm working some.  Probably fewer hours than a typical tax season, but working nonetheless.

All this has given us a space to begin gardening efforts.  Doug and Paige interested us in the style of raised garden, as they have put in something like that at their house (much more extensive than we have).  We thought it was cool because it would not hurt our backs so much, and make some predators a little less likely.

It's a raised garden box, made out of cedar, so it smells pretty.  We've put in some tomato varieties and some transplanted lettuce.  That's our start.  We've got additional seeds on order.

Alsion waters it morning and evening if there has been no rain.  It's getting six hours plus of direct sunlight.  The potting soil is chock full of "please let it grow" stuff.

It's an exciting sign of hope and promise in this time of the COVID-19 crisis.

I go out and check it each day, like it's going to miraculously grow in just a few hours.

The best thing I can tell you about the promise of the garden is that it's not just me watching over it, it's mostly Alison.

OK, it's all Alison.  But I'm there for support.