Gifts. Remember how I was sick on my birthday this year, so it never got celebrated? I think bad weather cancelled the make up day, and finally, in order to release my disappointment in the lack of festivities, I told Neal that he could buy me running gear so I could attend the Spring Glen Running Clinic that Blog-free Kim is organizing. I’ve been purchasing the gear on my own, bit by little bit, so Neal needed another gift idea. One day in the shower (I get all my best ideas near water), I thunk a thought that would work. I wanted a kitchen garden.
G, then, is also for Garden. When I moved in, Neal told me I could have one, but the location he’d determined for it was not to my liking. This spring, as he re-landscaped our front yard to put in a birm and a meadow (minimizing the lawn extensively), I pointed out a scraggly bit of yard not too far from the kitchen door. "There," said I, "is where my garden should be." As the person in our family with no landscape architectural background, I expected my idea to meet resistance, but after a wander about the yard, my location was deemed perfect.
Then 
I began to describe my vision. I wanted a circular shape. I wanted beds in the shape of wedges that would meet in an interior ring. I wanted a sculptural bean pole that would look interesting in the snow. I wanted a gate. After sketching and much discussion, Neal began to work his magic. He used geometry and sticks and strings, and we agreed on a hexagon. It’s so cool to be married to a man who can build the things I dream.
The garden is taking shape. I’ve planted a few things, but it was a bit late in the season for that. Next year, though, my garden will be brim full of produce, herbs, and cutting flowers. I’ll spend time with seed catalogs this winter, and I’m sure I’ll make some sketches as I decide what I want to plant where.
I’ve been reading a few garden blogs, including Pocket Farm, and Bliss. Next summer there’s bound to be a lot more gardening on my blog.
What are you growing in your garden?
Sadly, my answer would have to be weeds.
LOL @ Sheila!
I would like to have a veggie garden, but sadly I cannot. Our back yard is the woods. I would never ruin our view by putting up a fence, which is what I need from keeping the deer and other animals from eating the veggies.
Very cool garden design! I have to re-do my garden this fall but I’ll be going with five square raised beds (I also have two acres to play with so…I have a pretty big garden)
The one thing I’ve learned? If you want your garden to be accessible and attractive, plant your squash elsewhere. Mine have overtaken my triangle and I can’t get to half of my tomatoes without walking on squash…oy.
What a wonderful plan for a garden and what a fabulous husband for making it come true!
I love the week between xmas and new years because that’s when the seed catalogs come. *L*
I have roses and Egyptian walking onions. I think I’ve killed off everything else. As long as they spray here for West Nile, I can’t have a real garden. 😕
That’s going to be beautiful! Can’t wait to see when it’s finished.
My “garden” consists of several planting pots, one has already produced one (!) bell pepper – and I fear that was the whole harvest for this year. There are lots of tomatoes growing in another one. I have mint, which seems to survive everything. I had chard and am waiting for onions. I’d love to have a place where I can plant a permanent garden, but we are planning to move, so – oh well. One day.
Until then: G is definitely for gift. Georgeous gift. For great socks and generous knitter. G is for grateful sock wearer. And good choice of color. Thank you so much, Beverly. The socks are beautiful! And I’ll have pictures up of me wearing them soon.
Many many thanks.
Helga
Your new kitchen garden sounds wonderful. I hope you’ll post more photos of it. I have four raised garden boxes where I’ve planted carrots, paprika peppers (to make our own paprika), cherry tomatoes (including itty bitty currant tomatoes), various heirloom tomatoes, and peas. I also have what I call my kitchen herb garden with various herbs, irises, and some other flowers.