The Big Green Explosion

Summer's here and our gardens are back! The native prairie garden is exploding and there are already butterflies flitting around in anticipation of the flowers to come. The woodland natives miraculously emerged after being trampled and buried by the fence installers last year. Our strawberry patch has already produced about 2 pints of the best strawberries we've ever had and there are many raspberries on the way, too. We foiled the birds by putting a netting over the berry patch - doesn't look all that pretty, but I wasn't as willing to share this year. The herb garden is planted and we're already harvesting chives and dill. The veggie garden is in and reaching for the sun: tomatoes, banana peppers, hot peppers, eggplant, pickle cucumbers, zuchini and mesculin mix. I changed up my big patio containers this year - alyssum along the outsides with mint in the middle of one and lemon balm in the other...I'm thinking it'll be a good year for iced tea, lemonade and mojitos! I have to say the front lawn is looking smashing, too - the pride of the 'hood.

All of this without the use of chemicals. Earth rocks! I'll post some photos after we take the fence down - we keep it up until the veggie plants grow a bit to keep the dog from trampling them. Stay tuned!

It's so exciting to see the perennials return, the leaves come out on the tree and watch things grow...we love to relax on the patio with the birds and the butterflies with the warm summer breeze...our little urban oasis...