On Being a Gardener {Tutorial}

I don't know what possessed me to show you the progress photo I took of my cherry tomato plants.  Well, I did want to show you the progress, BUT, I was so anxious that I didn't photograph them at the right time.  I know better than to photograph ANY outdoor plant in full sun.  So, to make things all right again (in the photographic world), I had to retake those images correctly.  So here are those same tomato plants.

Shortly after those photos, I noticed my precious tomato plants going south.  I knew it was because they needed more room, but I could never find the right sized planters.  After much online searching and YouTube watching, I finally decided to use 5 gallon buckets as my planters.  I purchased food grade quality buckets from Lowe's Hardware, although in the future I will be getting them from the cafeteria at work.  If you decide to do this, remember, the buckets really need to be food grade quality; other buckets have chemicals in the plastic.  Also, remember to drill holes in the bottom of the bucket for drainage purposes.

The other weekend I went thrift shopping and one of the store owners sold me this wooden planter that I wanted, even though it wasn't even for sale.  I'm convinced that kindness counts.

I used the wooden planter to grow my Italian inspired herb garden. 

My next tasks will be to (1) start my Salsa Garden to satisfy my need for a little spice in my life and (2) plant some marigolds.  Marigolds release a fragrance that bugs do not like, so they help to deter bugs. In the past I've planted them mixed right in with my herbs, but this time I may plant them in the ground around my deck.  I'm doing a vinegar test right now, so we'll see what happens.  If that doesn't work, I'll plant the marigolds in planters as well.

And here's an update on my day lilies - they've finally started to bloom!

Happy Gardening,