My name is Elisa and I am an O.G

Obsessive Gardener. I was repotting things last night and putting out my new Dwarf Meyer lemon tree when I looked back at my little stoop. It was covered almost completely. I had to bob and weave my way back to my back door. it is getting bad. I did some rearranging and moving and things are looking better. However, I still have 2 tomato varieties, tomatillos, lemon balm, more lettuce, bee balm and coneflowers to find homes for. They have almost outgrown their seed homes. Where are they going to go? I am accepting my fate of being 'that lady in the apartment complex with the jungle out her back door' to the kids in the complex. I love it. I love it so much! Today as I was driving to work I realized that I had left my seedlings outside to get some sun and they may get rained on. An internal struggle ensued about whether to turn around and bring them in, or get to work on tim. I went to work, but have been fretting all day, running to the back door to check the weather (no windows in the building!). If it pours on them, their little stems are not strong enough to take it and they may perish. Very upsetting.
Everyday when I arrive home, I drop my handbag and go straight out back to see the progress. Yesterday I had beans sprouting up! And little red sprouts of red from my Rainbow Chard. 3 new blossoms on my strawberry plants and more mint than I can handle! What is a girl to do?

Get a goat and some chicken and resign herself to fate.

Oh Happy Day!

Yesterday I got home from work and, like everyday, I went to my garden first to check on things (yes, I am a dork). I peered into all of my little pots to make sure they were moist enough for some good germination action. Then, in my arugula pot, I saw it...SEEDLINGS! A patch of tiny 2 leaved green goodness. I actually shouted my glee aloud, yelling "their here, it's happening!" to Carrie, who was visiting. We both got excited (obviously me moreso). I was unsure of growing anything from seed, especially anything that I may want to eat, but so far...success! A summer of fresh greens. I am keeping my fingers crossed for my little seeds germinating indoors, all warm and moist in their miniature plastic greenhouse...and for my beans and other greens trying to make it outdoors as well.

My herb garden is spreading like crazy! I may have to transplant my mint, as I think it is crowding out the oregano and thyme. The damp weather has been so good for the little guys.

I feel like a proud parent on talent show day! Soon I will be inviting everyone over to pick up some veggies.

Weeds

I hate weeds! They are awful. My garden would be so beautiful now if it were without weeds. Well...maybe not so beautiful, but more leaning in that direction. I have lovely oregano, thyme, mint, lemon balm, and rosemary; all are thriving. I have a bazillion strawberry plants on the cusp of blooming little white flowers which will then turn into succulent strawberry deliciousness. And then I have the cursed dandelions and other weeds that I do not know the name of. Some of them, I confess, are pretty easy to just pluck out of the ground, and I will put my lack of plucking down to laziness. But there are others, such as dandelions, that are just impossible to get out of the ground in one piece! The roots end up firmly on the ground with all of the leaves crushed in my fingers, and mere moments later there is new growth - teasing me, taunting me.
ARG! I AM SO ANGRY!!!

OK. Enough of my rant.
If anyone wants a strawberry plant, let me know. They will soon be taking over my whole plot, me thinks.

I hope I always, always feel this way

I went to look at my little garden space today and, after looking close, I found them...LITTLE GREEN SPROUTS! My poppies are starting to come in. I was worried because after all the rain, my soil was beginning to again resemble clay. I was sure that the little friends would not be able to push their way through. I misjudged them. Like me, they are stronger than they look. A little difficulty was not stopping them from basking in the sunlight of spring. I almost cried.

My seeds came in today. Some of the veggies say to sow outdoors in early spring, so I guess that is now?! The tomatoes and tomatillos need some indoor lovin' first, so they are going to be set up on trays in my bedroom (the best light in the house). I am hoping to get dirty this weekend.

Amy, my Amaryllis is just about to bloom. She is in the phase where she has 3 distinct leaves, pink and green and vein-y just waiting go burst. Her stalk is so green and solid. I love it. Maybe tomorrow.

I love Spring. This year seems especially special...life after death. Green after so much brown. I keep mentioning this, in my personal blog, to everyone I see...it is on my mind a lot. I feel like I am maybe opening up again as well.

**Stay tuned to hear about CJ and my first week as members of a CSA. What veggies will we be enjoying this week???