5-6, Our Garden

Sven and I haven't tried our hand in gardening since 1999. We had a few small planter boxes in the backyard of our first house.  Things were growing right along until we left for Hawaii for a week.  Even though we had sprinklers set up on timers to keep everything watered (and bear in mind we were in WASHINGTON.....), everything dried out and died.  So much for all that work and planning!  Well, it's been 13 years and we're finally in an environment that may be conducive to gardening.  Maybe.  And unlike most of our neighbors, we're lucky enough to have a privacy fence around our backyard.  Well, you've seen my previously posted deer photos, so you know how critical that fence is to attempting a garden!  My neighbor across the street (who doesn't have a fence) said that last year the deer came up onto their patio and ate their tomato plants right out of the pots!  Yes, so we're lucky indeed.  Why not give it a try?  And, since we'll have a friend housesitting for us while we're in China, we thought (hope) maybe she'll be able to keep an eye on it for us.  So, here it goes.....Gardening at the Krauss Haus- Take 2. 

We have space for a little garden, little, so I couldn't resist giving these Topsy Turvy planters a try to save space.  We have the big one full of three types of tomatoes and peppers in two small ones. 

Age 2 or 10...there's just something about playing
with water that boys can't resist....

Now onto the real dirt part of our garden.  Nikolas took it upon himself to design the herb garden.  (Ok, so it may be only cilantro and basil, but it sounds more elaborate to call it an herb garden...)  He took this job very seriously....

...and is quite proud of himself.

As Sven and Nikolas were planting squash and cucumbers, I couldn't help but thinking of when Nikolas was little and helping Grandpa plants "apples" (potatoes to you and me).  It was so cute.  How exciting that we get to have a little one in the house again with the funny things they say and do.  I can only imagine the types of things Nikolas will teach her.

Yes, I know this photo of Sven and Nikolas is out of focus.  But you know what?  It's too darn cute not to include.  I have one lens that can only be used with manual focus on the new camera.  I'll blame it on that.  Time to practice, I suppose, and try shooting without the autofocus crutch every now and then.

Pumpkins.  Nikolas wanted pumpkins (I think Sven did, too....).  THAT made us remember the pumpkin patch we had growing in our landscaping by our front steps in Maryland.  The previous tenants must have planted them.  It was the oddest thing- what a place for a pumpkin patch!  We'll see if this patch does as well as that one in Maryland did.  

Ahh....the reward of watching things grow.....hopefully.  I'll keep you posted!