Where do they all come from?

I started weeding the first garden plot today! Its the biggest one too. It was much easier and more satisfying than weeding the bits of weed that sprouted up in the rocky walkway. The big weeds were in clumps, so when I pulled  part of it, it made it easier to pull the rest as they were all attached to one another. So far, I've pulled out half of the overgrown mint and all of the green onion I planted months ago. My next goal will be to remove the rest of the mint and begin on the other two plots.
 I encountered one spider (but it was so bad) and a TON of pill bugs! They were scattered throughout the soil as I was pulling out the mint. I wasn't as freaked out as before as I've dealt with roly polies many a times, and I started a new strategy: pull the weeds quickly and stuff them inside the trash bag before I see some bugs or insects. I feel bad for the critters because I'm tearing up their home, but hopefully they'll enjoy the new garden more!
EDIT: So I just found out that pill bugs are actually crustaceans. Who would have known? Here's a link to more fun facts about them.

Tuck and Roll from "A Bug's Life"

I saw the photograph

This isn't part of my weekly blog posts, but I wanted to share some photographs of The Beatles out in various gardens that I found on the internet. I also wanted to point out that each blog title is from a Beatles song!

If you want to enlarge a photo, just drag the image to the address bar. I'll post more photos later on!

You say you got a real solution

Who knew weeding could take so long? I've barely scratched the surface since they continually grow. But I've figured out a solution (and increased my problem-solving skills). Since the most stubborn ones only affect how the garden looks, I will just focus on the ones that are actually growing in the soil plots. Once I finish removing those weeds, I can begin planting. And while I wait for the plants to grow, I can get rid of the other weeds. It's a win-win situation! So my next goal is to clear out the soil plots, which shouldn't take too long.

Hooray!

Lend me your ears

I pitched my project in front of an audience today and was it nerve-racking! But it wasn't so bad. When I actually gave it, anyways. I had trouble using the presentation remote, but the relief I felt after I finished my pitch washed away my earlier thoughts. This sort of mirrors my situation with the garden. My challenge: face my fear of another run-in with bugs/insects/spiders. If I do run into one of those critters, will it be so bad? It would just mind its own business, right? Unless it enjoys the comfort of human contact, I'm positive it won't go near me. A few days ago, I noticed something nested on a plant in my front yard. A spider. And it was fairly big and had white markings and green fangs. It did freak me out, but when I looked up the spider, I found out that it was harmless and actually sort of friendly. So, when I resume weeding, I won't let the fear of run-ins stop me.

Why can't we be friends?

Cellophane flowers of yellow and green

What's a garden without some flowers? The garden will look much better with a palette of colors instead of different shades of green. And a salad bar should have accompanying floral decorations, right? Ergo, I've decided that I will also grow some flowers.

The garden has three plots of land, one relatively large and two smaller. I will dedicate the largest plot of land to herbs, and the two other plots will be for vegetables and flowers. I still have to put into consideration which plants need more sunlight and which need more shade, but this is just a rudimentary plan.

Here is a list of flowers that I have in mind:

• California Poppies
• Cosmos
• Marigolds
• Goblin Blanket Flowers
• Hyacinths
• Becky Shasta Daisy Flowers

"Gardening is for pansies."

I have my plan down now, but I still need to get rid of all the weeds! Because of spring, they've multiplied even faster. The sector of land I had weeded earlier now has some unwanted residents again. This will be an ongoing, but conquerable, challenge.

The sea of green

I went to Barnes and Nobles the other day and browsed through some gardening manuals. I'm definitely going to keep bookstores on my list of resources as there was an abundance of great gardening guides! The only problem was deciding on which book to browse through first. I've conjured up a list of plants I'm planning on growing:

- basil
- parsley
- oregano
- mint
- lemongrass
- lavender
- green onion
- rosemary
- sage
- thyme
- chili peppers
- fennel
- coriander/cilantro
- chives
- lettuce
- cherry tomato
- beefsteak tomato

I'm aiming to grow my own salad bar (besides the salad dressing).