One of my greatest endeavors = this year's garden.
I am smitten, and yet, I feel like somehow it is slipping through my fingers, and I am not basking in it enough. I don't know why. Maybe it's sort of like being the hostess of a busy party? Mister Lovee suggested this to be the case, and I quite agree.
I do stand and admire it, and attempt to soak it all in. I feel a bit in a state of shock, at the beautiful magnitude of it all (for me it's a lush garden, but maybe not so lush compared to those of you in a cooler and wetter climate).
The giant sunflowers, the pumpkins, oh the pumpkins. I have lived with the vast desire to grow pumpkins for years and years. It seems like a dream to me in a way. So many years of trying, and this time it worked.
The key.
Plant early, early, early.
I water twice a day. I only fertilized the soil (organically) twice in 5 months. No bug spray, nada, nothing to save me from the gophers except for me having the idea to push shishkabob skewers and popsicle sticks into the ground, all around my plant roots, to make it harder for gophers to get to them. It worked, for a while.
If you know how I use tape – imagine how many popsicle sticks are in my ground 🙂
I used metal bars too (pushed into the ground, like the skewers and popsicle sticks, around my plant roots), and hit the bars many times a day with a large hammer, to make noise in the ground in an attempt to deter gophers.
I also started digging my planting area depth a bit extra, and lining the underground with chicken wire, as gophers eat your plants from underground. Wow - what a job that was. Alas, the early plantings were not in chicken wire. (btw, the rabbits have been aggressive too, eating most of my dahlias & much more)
Still, the stinky gophers attacked many times. Oh and, I think I told you this, but my first planting of about 500 seeds were growing beautifully, and then were gone from one morning to the next (gophers and birds), so I had to plant everything again, way back in early March. The goal is not to give up and keep forging ahead…
Recently I woke up to dead vines, that had two beautiful flourishing baby pumpkins on them (pumpkins unharmed, phew – vines, not so lucky). Attacked by gophers over night.
I can't bring myself to kill the gophers, so I just try to protect my plants (next year I will plant above ground or figure out something better than plunking seeds right into the bare ground). But, I would be lying if I didn't tell you that, I have woken up every morning with gopher fear. I don't much like finding gopher holes and mounds, and missing 3 foot plants and healthy vines.
Yucky business I tell ya. But, oh well, what can you do? Just be happy for what survived, I say.
And, I am.
My gardening is like, super naked organic gardening. So, I think I did okay. I am pleased with the fruits of it.
Actually, I am greatly pleased.
Okay, okay, I confess, I am obnoxiously over zealously thrilled with my garden. Although it has been a ton of work, it has been totally worth it.
🙂
Over 3oo packets of seeds, and most of the vegetable seed packs were some I found in my old desk, from 2004-2006, expired, yet they grew (I also planted new seeds). I did all of my planting the last week in February and the first week in March. We have the option to drain our washing machine into the garden, and so we did. That, and 4-6 hours of tending the garden a day on my part, is what has helped the garden survive the summer heat, and the animals.
What an incredible experience. Growing things.
I feel like I have not even begun to share photos of the garden, and all the varieties of flowers. I will try to work on it, if you are interested that is?
I have thousands of photos, and just need to go through them all…
I got a huge break this past week and weekend. We got rain.
Beautiful skies dropped buckets of rain.
We got to wade in it (it was a lot of water), and play hooky from having to water for 2 days.
The peach tree is puddling on the ground with the weight from the rain and the ripening fruit…
I found a beautiful peach cobbler recipe in Victoria Magazine (Victoria Classics ~ Special Issue~ Rooms of Bliss 2010). I can not wait to try it. A few more days for the peaches, and I will be baking… Yippee!
But, the moment I have been waiting to share, came right after the rain this weekend…
When our big baby, was ready to come inside (squeal, snort, skip, cackle).
Punkin' Love, oh punkin' LOVE!
I kissed it.
I hugged it.
I put it next to Mister Lovee while he slept, to surprise him.
My beloved, large, baby punkin' head…
I am so glad that so many folks told me there was no way I was going to grow pumpkins. (none of you of course)
You know why?
Because, I believe that every time someone says something negative to you, 10 good things happen to you. So therefore, I grew pumpkins…
Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!
I am tickled orange!
Small, medium or large…
I love them all the same.
And, if we are lucky, there are more interesting squash loves on the way…
But for now.
My Family's Portrait………
Aren't they handsome?
Pinch me.
Did they really grow?
Oh yes, they did, they did, they did! Hoooray!
I must confess, this whole thing has me feeling positively WITCHY!
Bwahahahahhaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!
I have to go, cackle calling. Must polish broom, on the double!
Miss V! It is perfectly perfect that you are feeling so witchy because today I happened to discover that some ladies of blog land are going to be hosting a Practical Magic party! You should go here and check it out:
http://pmblogparty.blogspot.com/
I am sure your lovely orange family just might want to participate!
ps. you should definitely share more garden pictures!
Ohhhh you are really tempting me with those pumpkins. It’s taking me all my strength not to go mad with decorations so many months ahead. Fall is coming!! 🙂
Oh, 3 random things sounds fun!
1. I’m addicted to s’mores. The messier the better. It’s ridiculous, I can’t buy them because I can’t stop myself! (I make ’em in the microwave)
2. I have hundreds of safety pins. It started out where I had none, so I bought a pack. And then I just kept finding them everywhere!
3. Whenever someone else dyes their hair, it makes me want to dye mine, even if I have just dyed it. I like doing makeovers on myself (speaking of which, I gotta stop by the store and pick up makeover-supplies, stat!, heehee)
That was fun! 🙂
Oh yes, I heard about the Practical Magic Party!! What fun, what
glee!I cant play this time, sniffle;) But I am sure it
will be divine!!! I will peek in too!.. Here is my practical Magic post
from last year in case you want a peek – http://afancifultwist.typepad.com/a_fanciful_twist/2009/10/the-owens-women-more-than-a-little-practical-magic.html
More garden please, I am revelling in the colours of your success. I came to get your address for a link and was surprised by a new post, you are always a highlight to my day, like receiving a gift in the mail!
and those are truly beautiful pumpkins, I cant wait to see what magic you do with them.
And who do you think you are!! sooo wonderful, I watched the SJP one too, how surreal, I was rather taken with her mother, she seemed like the sweetest down to earth lady ever…I want her!!!
Love to you and the rascally hungry gophers
xxx
Sheree
Please post more photos of your garden 🙂 It is absolutely beautiful! I have a little balcony garden, but I’m afraid that the heat here has been horrible, and so my plants are not doing well, but I just picked more seeds, so I’ll plant those and try try again 😀 Your post gives me hope for my little garden! 🙂
I love this post so much, love the witchy Mother Earth thing you have going on….I remember when I grew a HUMUNGOUS garden to feed my children. How I loved it, putting the seeds in, weeding, watering, watching tjhem grow and then…..the PLENTY. An amazing process. The nature spirits seem to be thriving in your garden. Love your photos and your pumpkin family look – cute enough to eat, hee hee.
Hello again…
I love Halloween so much, this post was lovely.
three random things…
1.We always decorate for Halloween indoors right after 4th of July.
2.I love opera and classical music.
3. I’m married to a ghost hunter.
Hello, Miss Vanessa
Thank you so very much reminding us about your own post from last year where you highlighted ‘Practical Magic’. Does that make sense? I will just be viewing the PM party in September too. And I guess I got a little mixed up by who was the main host for it…best to go look at the link here that you posted. hee! hee!
I love the gloves, and hats, and scarves, and long flowing dresses that the ladies wear in the movie…can’t get enough of them!
Your pumpkins are amazing. And to think they still grew from out-dated seeds. I will think twice before throwing old seeds out.
Thanks for telling us about Blockbuster online. Two of our stores in town have already closed their doors for good. I did see a sale at one of our stores…purchase five movies for $20.00, to keep!
I have so much creativity inside my head trying to get out with so little time…it is driving me bonkers! I will create some dolls and things at some point…must be patient. Life has pauses sometimes, but then seems to resume itself.
Thank you for your wonderful blog…you make my spirits soar!!!
Cheers!
Miss Teresa
look at all those beautiful pumpkins! i love them!!! you have done a magnificently magical thing with your garden and i look forward to more and more pictures! 🙂
ps…i like Netflix as they have a shipping center in my town so the turn around time is only a day. when i used blockbuster mail it took almost a week to get movies in…either way..it is so cool to not have to go to the store! 🙂
blessings
~*~
Oh! Three random things…hmmmm
1. I love to squeeze my bottle of Palmolive Liquid detergent in the evenings, while doing my dishes as I squeeze and squeeze and fill my kitchen with oodles of magical bubbles!
2.I want to leave a legacy of joy and good thoughts when I am no longer here…but ‘There’.
3.I want to make as many online friends as I can, and encourage them that no matter how hard life gets…to always look for rainbows and the silver lining in the clouds, and to NEVER GIVE UP, to BE WHO YOU WERE MEANT TO BE, realizing that no one can take away who you really are. Be adventurous, be always kind, fly in your dreams, seek fairies, eat good food, and be patient with yourself, for you are truly the only one who can make your dreams come true.
Love to everyone who reads this!
Oh me, that ‘family’ photo is beautiful, tee hee…and the witchy in you coming out, l-o-v-e it! Are you hinting around to the Halloween party, hmmmmm?
randomness about me: I rarely watch movies and don’t want much tv either (except for ‘Lost,’ but now that it’s over completely, I might actually get some work done in the studio, hahaha).
Jamie 🙂
random rooness:
1. i secretly believe that you posted just for me today :p SNORT!THANK YOU! (in the midnite hour, she cried more more more, with a garden yell she cried more more more) <3
2. i rarely carve pumpkins because it seems so gory (meaning i am a wuss)...i dont have real christmas trees either because i feel so sorry for them, getting dressed up like a painted lady and then tossed on the curb, i feel guilty and cry (its true)...after hurricanes in miami i would make dad go around and help me replant as many trees as we could...
3. i think number two proves i am not a big fan of counting and oh the moon was awesome and cody the lost boy looked at the clouds today and said wow i think god's cutting shapes out of the sky with a cookie cutter
3a. we have directv, only because i got outvoted and the directv guy was here one day when i got home from work and i was dismayed but the lost boys and the directv guy made it ok by luring me in with turner classic movies and TV Land, which is what the TV i watch is usually on however
3b.I prefer boookkkkssss & magazines in the internetz
3c TODAY WAS NATIONAL COWBOY DAY!!!!:)
xoxoxoxoviiixoxoxoxox
I want you to know I’m having serious pumpkin envy here, *sigh*…I SO want to grow them, but alas, not enough room in my tiny, shaded backyard.
Your garden is amazing, although knowing how intense the heat can get in your part of the world, I’d hate to see your water bill – eek! 🙂
Three random things…
#1 I’m a terrible housekeeper. I’d rather be making art.
#2 I’ve lived without TV for five years now, and don’t miss it.
#3 I think chocolate covered strawberries are the perfect food.
🖤 Carolee
Your pumpkins are FABULOUS, just fabulous. I can’t imagine how challenging it must be in your climate…when we were in VT, the growing season was short, but boy, did we ever have water. Two years ago there, we had a little pumpkin harvest: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thespunmonkey/2895174793/in/set-72157601810923525/
Sigh. I miss those humid, stormy summers!
No pumpkins made it this year and we don’t know who it was that ate them.
Randomness:
1) I am addicted to two things: milky chai tea in the morning and peppermint tea at night.
2) I have a secret desire to raise pigeons (and doves and peacocks). For now, we have bees and chickens.
3) We both used the phrase “off kilter” in our blog posts today, which is funny because I don’t remember when the last time was that I said “off kilter.”
I always love logging on when I get to work in the AM to see what wonders you’ll bring to us today! And of course I was not left wanting this morning.
Random things-
1. I have a not so secret obsession with 80’s rock hair bands much to everyone’s dismay.
2. My husband and I got married on Halloween last year and it was truly a magical spirit filled day.
3. My dream job would be to be a puppy hugger. Like the premie baby huggers at hospitals, just I want to do it with puppies.
gophers!
well i never!
i have no knowledge of gophers
at
all
down here in steamy florida.
🙂
you garden looks Plenty Lush to me!
i have to baby and baby my flowers
through the sweltering day
giving them
drops of yummy
H2O.
they are mostly frazzled…
so
yes
thanks for your family portrait
as it makes
me happy
to think
of summer flowers
sleeping next to fall pumpkins!
yippee!
plus this—>
“””I believe
that every time
someone says something negative to you,
10 good things happen to you.”””
i am adopting That Thought
IF
you
do
not mind…
🖤
Your post surely brightens ones day. Makes me love smile and appreciate the little things in life. If one stops and looks around once in a while you see many things.
It’s amazing something so colorful and beautiful can come from the desert! I’m so please your garden has yielded so much beauty and food…
I really do admire your determination V! This year I didn’t do much of a garden after losing a battle with the local squirrels, raccoons and slugs. Next year however, it’s raised beds and chicken wire! I shall have my own garden and I will win the war! Bwahahahahaha…!!
*cough cough*
Right, also your pumpkin family is soooo cute! I am totally envious. I tried last year to grow some and they got munched and then a bad attack of leaf mold. But, that did stop me from having my orange minions during All Hallows! Behold! The Gruesome Threesome!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/56691266@N00/4834628750/
Okay, three random things…
1. Baby smiles are contagious but bad for the hormones.
2. I love chocolate and I have stashes of it around my house. Including leftovers from last years Halloween!
3. Cloud gazing is fun and will eat up lots of hours. It can lead to extreme giggles and lots of happy.
GOPHERS MADE ME MAD AND HURT MY FEELINGS!!! I can so relate – I had a perfectly gorgeous flower garden and at it’s height it was a brilliant display of rainbow splendorificness! A few weeks ago I went outside and all the heads on my flowers were gone! It was just like they were never there! I, of course, blamed the deer – except that I realized there haven’t been a ‘trace’ of deer in our yard in over a year….but they grazed on the neighbors overgrown grass, so it could have been them right?….then there was the bunny rabbit in the other neighbor’s yard…maybe….but no ‘sign’ of him in our yard either….well lo and behold a few days after I noticed that the flowers were gone did my husband find a impish little gopher gnawing away at plant in our yard. I yelled at him and shooed him away and he gave me a ‘child please’ look and kept gnawing on the plant!….he still keeps coming around – every morning and afternoon. I don’t want to kill him or anything….I might try your tactic of staking the ground….however, if my husband is feeling gun happy one morning, I can’t say what will happen to mr. gopher. 🙁
I know exactly how you feel when you say that the summer beauty is slipping away and you don’t seem to be enjoying it enough.
Your pumpkins are MAH-velous dahling! As are all your gorgeous flowers and I long to see more!
Awe, the Magical Land of my Beloved New Age Hippie. Girl girl girl, you make me swoon. I want to climb into every photo and skip and dance around the flowers. Oh, and leap.
Ms. V, I have a request. When your pumpkins have turned to mush, could you send me the stems if you have no intentions for them??? I need about a million gourd and pumpkin stems…brewing up something awesome…
**blows kisses** Deb
love that you planted 300 pkgs of seeds! i read something interesting about perennial seeds – if you plant them 6 weeks before the 1st frost, they are stronger in the spring…..
3 random things …
… looking for peacock themed things in thrift stores (that almost sounds like Sally searches for seashells by the seashore!)
… making homemade jam with the new Ball silver lids & rings
… Licorice tea by Stash (weirdly addicting)
You are whimsical witch!
Your gardens are beautiful and have fared better than mine here in NJ! (This year’s heat and humidity have made this my worst season, ever!) Oh how I love the sight of those pumpkins! Gardening, a lesson in patience and perseverance, truly.
We have babies and yellow stars too and it would be so sad to see them ravaged. I am so glad you have the little family of pumpkins for they should be safe with the foxgloves and morning glories. They are precious and we must keep them safe in their cute orangeyness. Stay cool dear girl! Blessings, Amy
Since I packed up and packed it in..I have missed my garden most of all. Yours is a delight to behold..I have a pot of Basil …LOL
Yes, definitely more garden pictures!!! I LOVE garden pictures!!! =D
I squealed & squeed & jumped up & down when I saw my first baby pumpkin of the season on my pumpkin plant… I have my garden on my porch… on the second story… so I wasn’t sure how pumpkins would do growing out of pots! But we tried it anyways, and I think they’ll be just lovely!!! 😀
I wish my veggies were further along… I have a feeling it’s going to be a late harvest up here in the Pacific NW…
I love dancing under the moon too… It’s the best! Dancing wildly in the rain, whirling & twirling until one falls down comes in a close second though…
Three random things… Hmmmmm…
1) I love to collect sea glass! I have jars & jars of it… Sea magic, coalesced in sparkly ocean jewels… ^-^
2) I want to live in the Southwest some day, even for just a few months or a year… My partner is terrified of being land locked, however, so this may not happen… Not to mention she hates the heat (I don’t get it either…) 🙁 I might just have to visit a few times & call it good… We’ll see though… I haven’t given up on her yet!
3)I would love to have an ice cream maker! Being able to make my own ice cream in whatever awesome flavor I wanted would be supremely wonderful. Basil… Ginger… Mint… Rose… Lavender… Pumpkin… Mmmmm… ^-^
Hope you’re having a wonderful day with Mr. Lovee, Matty & your garden!
xoxo
BEAUTIFUL PUMPKINS Vanessa Beautiful! I love your beautiful pumpkin posts, it makes me feel closer to fall:)
Love, love the colors of your garden. My pumpkins are just blooming and you have them full grown – could it be I am orange jealous. Oh but the blue flower just pops there in the bouquet. I have a yellow vase that would match with your vases so well, but no I won’t be sending it your way. So go out and enjoy that garden, you deserve it.
You are a lucky lady with a lovely garden!
Beautiful pictures! Please do post more of the flowers! My poor garden needs more attention; you are great inspiration!
Hello Vanessa,
I had to look up on wikipedia what a gopher was… Looks such a cute animal ! If my daugher saw this, she wanted one ! LOL
maybe you can send some to our house so these can’t destroy your garden…
Even when the animals looks cute, I can understand they get you mad when they eat what you grow with so much effort !
And now you gather what you have worked for so long and daily !
Enjoy !
greetings from Belgium
Inge
Dear Vanessa! What a delightful post – pumpkins, pumpkins, pumpkins!!! A most wonderful gourd family indeed. Definitely do bring us more garden postings – I never tire of viewing them.
I love your random things…I’ve never watched Who Do You Think You Are, but I am most entranced by “Work of Art” – also on Bravo and viewable on Hulu. It’s fascinating and it inspires me each episode. Hmmm…what random things might I offer you.
1. I am left-handed and so is my hubby. We met online. 🙂
2. I had a piece published in Seventeen magazine when I was in college. It was called “A Tip or Two About Waitressing.”
3. I have an irrational fear (aren’t they all, really) of elevators. I truly don’t like small enclosed spaces.
I know, my random things are kind of boring. I’ll try to think of more exciting things next time!
Have a wonderful evening! Theresa 🙂
Dear Vanessa,
I am just laughing, sorry, about your attack against the gophers. All those stakes…vampire gophers.
Happy that you are having SOOO much success in spite of it all.
The little nosegays are deLIGHTful!!!
happiest of summer planting to you!!
x..x
You always make me feel so much better about life.
Thank you from another pumpkin lover.
Oh how well your garden has grown and is still growing!! I am thrilled for you.
I deal with the Black Gopher as well and they have taken much from me. This year I made a special planting bed. 10 inches of gravel over chicken wire! Ah Ha!! Take that Mr. Gopher! And I planted a pumpkin plant there and it is growing and growing. Now if the bunnies will leave it alone. I may be dancing around my pumpkin heads soon!!
Congrats dearest one!!
Hugs
SueAnn
Pumpkins!! Oh my. We can never get them to grow out here on the coast… just too darn cold and not enough sunlight!
just came back
to pet the pumpkins
again,
missy….
🙂
🖤
your blog makes me happy thank you