As I enter my 6th season of gardening, I thought it might be fun to track the growing season through more than just random Instagram photos.  I have been a hobby gardener since the pandemic lockdown of 2020.  I live in upstate New York and my native soil is straight up sand from a former glacial river valley.  This provides benefits and challenges: it drains well but dries out quickly and it does not contain enough nutrients for annual plants.  I have an 8×20 foot greenhouse and use a combination of in-ground, raised bed, and container gardening spread across my backyard.  I also make extensive use of my basement for overwintering frost tender plants like fig and citrus trees, and canna lilies.  I have grow lights, heat mats, and shelving units for seed starting indoors. 

Over the years I have converted more and more of the backyard from grass into garden beds.  We had a few trees removed from the backline of the property last spring and this has increased the sun exposure for the garden.  I have a container fig tree orchard; they live on the back patio during the summer months.  Two years ago, I planted 3 apple trees, and this past year I added 3 pear trees. I enjoy propagating figs and houseplants by cuttings, so those projects will be shared as well. I grow many herbs for homemade teas and herbal infused oils, and I also grow flowers for use as natural dye and printing on fabric.

We may be in the depths of winter right now, but I am looking forward to this year’s growing season and am already taking steps to start off the season. I can’t wait to fill up the greenhouse with seedlings in the spring, and each year I look forward to seeing the magnolia tree in full bloom.

I see my garden as a place to grow food as well as flowers. I like to use it as a way to slow down and enjoy being outside; as a space to walk, observe the plants, and see what pollinators might be around. I want my garden to be both productive and relaxing.

I will be utilizing this space to showcase garden successes and failures, plant propagation, natural dye projects, dehydrating/processing harvests, and home made herbal remedies.