The "Accidental" Sunflower

This sunflower sprouted from a random piece of bird seed! It's amazing that such a beautiful thing can grow accidentally from a tiny, random seed.

Mmmmmm... eggplant!

Who knew?!?  Eggplants grow fantastically in the high desert!  Back in March, I purchased a 4-pack of "Millionaire Eggplant" seedlings... mostly just as experiment, to see if they actually would grow.  Just 3 months later, I have 4 eggplant-producing plants!

Backyard Bounty!

It's only June... and I am already picking fresh produce from my backyard!  Back in April, I made an upside-down tomato planter.  It was so easy to make!  Supplies needed: any type of container, chain, and a drill... things you probably have around your house already! :)  Anyways... my tomatoes seem to be loving it!  Tomatoes get to hang with no supporting or unnecessary tomato cages involved!  And even more exciting... I have basil and marigolds growing in the top... lots of growing going on in a very small space! :)

I ♥ Marigolds

I absolutely adore Marigolds! Not only do they add vibrant color to an outdoor space... but they keep insidious insects from devouring your precious plant babies! My poor eggplants were under attack the moment I set them outside. However, as soon as I rushed to Lowe's and planted marigolds by their side... the biting of leaves came to a halt! Needless to say, marigolds are now planted throughout the entire garden. :)

Gardening Improves Well-being!

Gardening and spending time in nature are such great stress relievers! There are so many studies about how spending time in nature irmproves overall well-being.  Here are just a few of the positive benefits... hopefully they will get you excited to get out there and grow! :)

• Sunlight: Just getting out in the sunlight can actually improve your mood! (In fact, there’s a condition called Seasonal Affective Disorder that affects some people during Winter months when there is less sunlight.) Sunlight also provides an influx of vitamin D, and the fresh air that that goes with it is good for your health. Getting outdoors to work with your garden is a great excuse to get more of this good stuff.
• Getting In Touch With Nature: Being in touch with nature and the great outdoors can help you feel more removed from the stressors of daily life. With the amount of time we spend indoors (at work, watching t.v., etc) many people feel an urge to connect with nature that goes unfulfilled. While you may not have the time to go camping or take a nature hike each day, having your piece of nature right outside your back door can help you feel some of this connection.
• Creating Beauty: The beauty of nature is a great stress reliever in itself. (Just think of how many times relaxation has been connected with pictures of stunning landscapes or recordings of nature’s sounds.) Having your own bit of beauty available as a place for meditation, contemplation and relaxation can provide quite a bit of relief from stress. It’s all part of making your home a have from stress.   

Source: About.com: Stress Management

Growing beans... from seed!

Pole beans are some of the first plants I have ever (successfully) grown from seed- organic, of course... and they are taking off! Many previous attempts with starting plants from seed did not go as planned. However, I told myself... that 2010 was going to be the year my garden actually thrives!  :) They have already climbed to the top of the bamboo poles... tomorrow I am going to make a trellis for them by tying several bamboo poles together.

Glorious Geraniums!

 

Geraniums are quickly becoming a favorite flower of mine! They seem to bring the backyard to life... and so far they seem to be doing very well!

My pride and joy...

Last summer I enjoyed my first fig... thanks to Abundant Harvest Organics. It's hard to believe I had lived my entire life without enjoying this exotic fruit. Since (fresh) figs have limited shelf lives, they are not typically sold in stores.  How wonderful... I thought to myself, would it be to walk out into my backyard, and enjoy a fig from my very own tree? I was so excited when I found a "Peter's Honey Fig" tree in April. When I brought it home, I was excited that it already had 7 figs on it!  Just 2 months later, the count is up to 26!!

My Backyard

Welcome to my backyard! You might not guess it... but it is in the middle of the high desert!  We have extreme temperatures here in Palmdale, and it most ALWAYS windy!  But that doesn't mean you can't have a garden! :)