How my garden grows (hopefully)...

The lovely calla lilies I clipped from our back yard Sunday.

One of the main benefits of residing in Southern California is the weather, which is absolutely perfect more often than not. This past weekend was particularly glorious and so on Sunday, I trekked to the garden center so I could get started on my planting. On my wish list: veggies, herbs and flowers.
I came home with tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, green beans, chives, basil, rosemary, mint, and of course, some flowers - salvia, snap dragons, impatiens and more. I figured that was enough to get started with.
Before I got down to potting everything - I'm container gardening this year - I decided I might as well make the rounds and clip some of the gorgeous blooms already out in our yard. The calla lilies shown above I clipped yesterday, along with a riot of roses - pinks, cream with pink, white, peach. (I've lived all up and down the East Coast and now on the West Coast, and I have to say Southern California seems made for roses - they bloom for most of the year here. I'll post some pictures of those later in the week.)
I haven't grown vegetables in a few years, and never in containers, so I am a little anxious to see how everything does. I studied up a little on container gardening and really it doesn't seem that different than putting stuff in the ground, so fingers crossed. (And if anyone has any tips, please share.) I really wanted to get back into the groove of growing my own vegetables and having my own fresh herbs on hand - I just think it's a much healthier way to eat and stay in tune with the seasons. One day I hope to have an extensive garden of both vegetables and flowers... but that's several years off.
It seemed to take me hours to get everything situated - the right plant in the right pot, in the right location in the yard depending on the amount of sunlight needed. And then some of our other plants needed attention, so they got a little TLC, too. All in all, it was a busy day, as you can see.

My garden - all in containers. We rent and it would be very hard to put a garden in - an effort not worth making since we're moving in a couple years. Clockwise, from the back, two tomatoes, cucumber, onion and mint. I can't wait to see how they all grow.

My little herb garden, in my favorite kitchen window - rosemary, chives and basil. Yum.

Mint - in a pot all its own because it tends to overrun everything else. In a different kitchen window.

Some of the flowers I planted - salvia and snap dragons - and my green beans are in the back. They may need to be staked as they grow.

This one required no potting. Isn't it beautiful?

My dogs did not feel the need to help out yesterday, as you can see. But at least they are enjoying our pretty back yard. Even my dogs know how to enjoy beauty. :)

Believe it or not, I don't think I'm done yet. I'd still like to try to grow lettuce and carrots and I need some new lavender... I think the gardening bug has really bitten me this year. :)

Comments

  1. I'm so impressed, look at all of that! :-) I love calla lillies...I bought a plant one year, but I'm afraid they didn't make it :-( I can't wait to see your roses!!

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  2. What gorgeous calla lilies. I can't wait to get home and get my herb garden going again. Winter wasn't kind to it. I'm envious of your southern California weather. Your dog looks so "at home" and relaxed in that photo.
    Sam

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  3. You garden will grow - bit by bit and leaf by leaf. But as a gardener you need - besides sunshine and water - patience. Now that this is me who is writing this , this is fun ! As I am a very unpatient person, and I am "doing" my garden since 11 years now - and it still is not really what I envision. That is the best - that in your garden you really are your own garden designer - you plant, plan, take out and replant and you have the work and troubles - but you do have the joy and beauty as well ! Callas do not grow here, due to an abundance of snails. But roses do :-) so I am a happy gardener waiting for her collection of Old English roses to come to bloom again.. kind regards, Martina

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  4. what a fabulous backyard haven you have there!! All your plants are awesome. love your bloggie decor too. Gotta follow, sweets!

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  5. Your potted plants have given me smiles today!

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  6. What wonderful thoughts of summer! I like your container garden. It seems so much easier to manage when life is busy.
    I am visiting from The Rose Tea Cottage. You have a beautiful blog!
    It's been fun visiting,
    Joyce

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  7. I do lots of containers in the summer as well and one little raised bed. Fresh basil is heaven and I grow lots of it. Enjoyed my visit with you today.

    Carol

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  8. Gorgeous beginnings of sustenance!!! I send you blessings for a green thumb! Thanks for the visits! Light, Amy

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  9. How fun! I always kill any plants/veggies I try to grow! You've gotten off to a great start!

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  10. You are going to have a wonderful container garden! My only suggestion is to make sure that you water your veggies often...check EVERY day for the dryness of the pot....
    Hugs,
    Penny

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  11. How wonderfully lovely! You're very blessed to be surrounded by so much natural beauty. One of the definite drawbacks to living in an apartment (many stories above the ground) is that I do not have a yard to call my own (and there are no community gardens that I'm aware of in my neighborhood).

    Thankfully through wonderful souls like you share the beauty of your gardens with all the world so that I can admire your flowers and dream of one day growing my own :)


    Giant thanks for your comments, sweet friend, I really hope you're having a splendid week!
    ♥ Jessica

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  12. Hi Bella,
    It's so nice to see you were bit by the gardening bug. Isn't it wonderful when you find something that gives you such passion. My bug is for crafting, decorating and designing. I can't get enough.
    You are sooo lucky, in my opinion, to live in southern Cali. I would just love to live with almost perfect weather year round. No wonder you want to be outside gardening!! Your dogs look like they are enjoying being outside too. They are so cute, BTW!!
    I'll be back to visit again soon. I hope you are having a wonderful day!
    XoXo
    Gail

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  13. You really have the perfect weather for growing stuff in California! Love that your not letting the fact that you're renting stop you from growing food! You can grow everything in containers. You just have to remember to fertilize frequently and water (sometimes twice a day if it's hot).

    Manuela

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  14. Bella, this is a great post. The lilies are gorgeous. We do a lot of container gardening because of deer. I have the immediate plant world growing on my decks because of those large 4 legged rats :-). Watering is the only trick to container gardens. I know you'll be successful. Have a great day. Blessings...Mary

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