Take a wander with me

I hurt my foot pretty bad and couldn't get out to do much in the garden for a couple of weeks.  I've had a hard time getting back to work.  It's not my foot.  I'm weary.  I'm tired of working outside for hours a day.  I realized today that it's because I'm not actually gardening, or doing the things I enjoy in the garden.  All I'm doing is laying down carboard and wood chips.  For hours.  Every day.  This morning I decided to do what I love best and take a slow wander through my garden, just enjoying the green life.  Come with me on my walk and I'll show you a few of my favorite spots.

Potatoes growing quickly

I planted three patches of potatoes this year, but this one is my favorite!  It's round, surrounded by an interesting wood border and interspersed among the potato plants is scarlet clover.  It's my favorite because it is the biggest and most lush, even though it was planted the latest of all three.  Last Spring I had a black tarp layed down to put soil on as I built grow boxes and it sat there for a year.  When I pulled the tarp back this Spring the soil was moist, dark brown and rich, full of mycelium and just crumbled in my hand.  It was amazing soil and the potatoes are enjoying it so much!

This is one of my yarrow patches, it grows along the bottom edge of my strawberry and asparagus guild berm.  I love the soft, feathery leaves and the tiny white flowers.  It makes me happy every time I walk past.  There is another patch around my apple tree, and another near the potatoes I just showed you.  

Yarrow

I have another favorite spot, two actually, wait...who can pick a favorite?  I love my patch of sunchokes growing.  I feel so pleased every time I see them, knowing they will help feed my family. I've never had them before so I am also feeling excited to try a new food.

I love my two strawberry and asparagus guilds.   I can't wait for fresh strawberries next spring.  Everyone in my family loves asparagus so I hope they, too, will take off like wildfire.  One of my few surviving rhubarb plants also lives in the guild.  Have you ever sautéed rhubarb?  It adds a lovely tart flavor to a savory dish.  You should try it.

Ok, now for my very favorite, my grape tunnel.  It's full of grapes, and even though it's only on it's second  year the grapes have really taken off.  I have tons of grapes growing this year and half of the tunnel is completely covered!  I'll plant some more this fall, some nice big, purple ones my neighbor has.  Next spring we also want to plant grass underneath so we can lay in the green tunnel on the cool grass.  Can you imagine how wonderful it will be?  I think this is my favorite place to walk because I feel completely surrounding by wonderful growing plants.

Morning sunlight filtering through my grape tunnel

Some of my other favorite are the sound of my chickens clucking along, eating grubs and bugs and making fresh food for us.  I love my catnip and watching my fat black cat lounge next to it, so self satisfied, as if he owns the whole world.  I love t
he morning sun touching my trees for the first time.  I can almost feel everything waking up and stretching to reach for the first rays, it's magical.  What are your favorite spots in your garden?