Category: backyard garden

Well, this is Growing Well

I stepped outside this morning expecting nothing from the garden, only to see what was going on out here. I found mud, chilly temperatures, and some surprises. Everything looked suspiciously productive. Suspicious because I still don’t consider myself a competent gardener. It’s almost like the plants had a meeting without me and decided to get their act together. Good for them. I have no idea how to do that.

So I grabbed my camera, took a slow wander, and let the garden show off a little. So, now I’ll give you all a look as well.

Close-up of a sprouting fava bean

I have never grown fava beans before. They have sprouted with the kind of dramatic flair usually reserved for stage actors and toddlers. The seed has sprouted and is posing like it knows it’s the star of today’s show. Honestly, if seedlings could demand royalties, this one would. I can’t wait to eat them!

A few steps over, the raised beds are waking up. Drip lines are weaving through green growth, tiny leaves are pushing up like they’re late for something, and the greenhouse in the background is pretending that it wasn’t a wind tunnel all winter. At one point, I had to collect a couple of the panels from the neighbors’ yards after a windstorm. The greenhouse and I have been through things.

Wide view of the Wild Light Garden with raised beds and greenhouse in early spring.
Close-up of drip irrigation nestled among dense early spring chamomile.

And then there’s the greenhouse nursery where hope and impatience live side-by-side. I’m happy to say that most of the seedlings are thriving while some are still thinking about it. I don’t judge. We all wake up at our own pace. I happen to need coffee and some of us require snacks.

A small heater that keeps the greenhouse from dipping down too low on the thermostat.
Close-up of young seedlings in a greenhouse tray.

On a different note, I found one of the gnomes leaning suspiciously close to the heater. I’m not saying he did anything, but the last time he looked that guilty, I ended up with a mysteriously relocated trowel and a row of radishes planted in the shape of a question mark. I’ve moved him to the bird bath where he can reflect on his choices.

The strawberries that have been growin gin the same bed for three years are just now beginning to blossom!

It’s the magic part of the garden year, where nothing is perfect but everything is possible. The soil is soft, the air smells like rain, and every corner has something quietly happening and the groundhog is eating your dandelions.

I'll allow the groundhog to eat the dandelions, but once he starts eating the garden I'm calling in a favor from the neighbor's cat. He knows he owes me from all the treats I give him!
  • Wide view of galvanized raised beds and greenhouse in an early spring garden
  • Close up of a drip irrigation emitter nestled among dense feathery green chamomile foliage
  • bubbler drip irrigation installed in raised bed
  • Garlic chives and lavender plants in a round galvanized raised bed
  • Fava bean seedlings growing beneath a black teepee trellis in a galvanized raised bed

Sow it begins…

…or what’s happenin’ now?

Seed packets laid on empty black plastic trays ready for planting

The garden is officially in its hopeful chaos phase.

It all starts with packets and empty trays. Add gloves, labels, and a brand spanking-new spray bottle (Dollar Store gold) and I have made the small, but mighty kit of chaotically-hopeful beginnings. (The spray bottle is the hero. Seeds are needy!)

Green spray bottle, gardening gloves, plant labels, and seed packets on a stone step

The soil plugs are filled. The waiting has begun. Germination is just suspense with dirt.

Two clear trays filled with dark soil plugs for seed starting

This year’s greenhouse is nursing Sweet Alyssum, Mini Mint, three kinds of peppers: King of the North, Ozark Giant, and Lemon Spice Jalapeño. (Yes, there is a pepper called Lemon Spice Jalapeño and, yes, I am very excited about it.) Of course, I’ve added four types of tomatoes for snacking and slicing.

Outside, the cold-hardy plants are already in the ground and beginning to sprout.

Garlic chives and lavender plants in a round galvanized raised bed

Fava beans are spreading under the teepee trellis, carrots are doing their thing, and the leeks are pushing up in thin, cheerful lines like reaching towards the Sun.

Fava bean seedlings growing beneath a black teepee trellis in a galvanized raised bed

The drip lines are reconnected. The galvanized beds are waking up!

Close up of a drip irrigation emitter nestled among dense feathery green chamomile foliage

The greenhouse is visible from almost everywhere in the garden, a good reminder of what’s coming. It’s also a good place to go when I need to feel like things are under control. They’re not. But that’s fine. That’s what the gnomes tell me anyway.

Wide view of galvanized raised beds and greenhouse in an early spring garden
  • Green spray bottle, gardening gloves, plant labels, and seed packets on a prepping table
  • Wide view of galvanized raised beds and greenhouse in an early spring garden
  • Close up of a drip irrigation emitter nestled among dense feathery green chamomile foliage
  • bubbler drip irrigation installed in raised bed
  • Fava bean seedlings growing beneath a black teepee trellis in a galvanized raised bed
  • Garlic chives and lavender plants in a round galvanized raised bed
  • Seed packets laid on empty black plastic trays ready for planting

Winter Wondering

Oh, winter is on its way out! I’ve enjoyed the time to wonder and reflect.

I have ordered seeds, planned my 2026 garden, and inventoried the seeds I saved from last season.

Before I know it, this garden and greenhouse will no longer be covered in snow at rest, but filled with life and growing! Stay tuned!

Raised Bed Gardening or Elevated Dirt

My backyard garden consists of raised beds made from 3-foot round, galvanized steel fire pits. I saw them on sale three years ago at Rural King for $49.99 each, so I bought 16 of them. I do not regret this purchase.

Full photo of backyard raised garden bed with vegetables.
Late May 2025

Many moons ago, I had a traditional in-ground garden, but it filled with weeds quickly and I just could not keep up. Curse you, crab grass!!! I decided to tarp the whole area over late summer into early spring in order to suppress the weeds and start over the next season. Then COVID hit. Unlike many people, when we were all sequestered at home, I had less freedom to go outside in the yard since I was the main caretaker of my disabled son. Not being able to continue our “normal” public lives meant his services ended and I took care of him inside the house.

a photo of raised garden beds containing carrots, chives, leeks, snapdragons, onions, chamomile
Early June 2025

From inside the kitchen, I could look out at the garden space and dream of beautiful, lush green vegetables instead of the ugly, huge, blue tarp that was spread out collecting falling debris from the maple trees. Various stones and bits of cement block held down that awful thing. It was a true eye-sore. However, two years later when I was finally able to get back to gardening, the tarp had done a wonderful job of killing off the weeds. I was able to position the fire pits into the base of what is now our backyard raised bed garden.

I am very happy that I have mostly chosen to go this route as opposed to the traditional in-ground method. The soil in the raised beds is easier to amend based on what I’m planting in it that season as I can curate the acidity levels or organic fertilizer. I don’t have to be careful where I am walking for fear of accidentally stepping on a plant I want to live. Plus, weeding is much easier! Oh, my goodness, is it much easier. I can grab a stool, sit down, and weed. Since these beds are 3 feet in diameter, I can pretty much reach around the whole thing without hurting my back from bending over or being on my knees.

photo of happy 48-year-old gardener, woman who is 5'9" tall standing in front of a 7' tall sunflower in full bloom

Also, raised beds do help deter some pests and critters from getting into the plants. I said “some” like, the really lazy ones. Not the squirrels. They are not lazy; however, they are forgetful. The neighbors have a couple of black walnut trees. I keep finding walnut saplings trying to grow in the beds. I pull them out (often with most of the nut hull still attached), throw it towards the squirrel’s home and shake my fist! Yes, I actually do this.

Every season I get to know how to garden a little better. Raised garden beds have been so helpful and have made gardening easier for me. I also think they look beautiful. Although it may seem weird that placing 16 galvanized steel fire pits, filled with dirt, in a backyard could elevate its look.

In my case, it certainly did.

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