We got a tree!

So I've been looking to buy a tree. We have lots of short, wide pots of flowers and veggies on the deck, but I wanted something vertical. We also have an empty corner that's been looking pretty sad... which made today's random walk past a flower shop particularly tempting.

You guys, I bought a Gardenia!

To be fair, I didn't know what it was and I was first looking at the Hibiscus tree (crazy pink flowers and pretty tall). But suddenly I caught a whiff of something delicious. Like someone sprayed some perfume, except better. And so I turned my head and caught sight of these bad boys:



After a lengthy conversation with a local gardener who happened to be passing by, I was sold. I carried it home and made the doorman smell the flowers on my way upstairs. When Chris opened the door, there I stood, holding a tree in my arms and grinning like a kid on Christmas. He laughed for ten minutes about that. He buys PS3 games, I buy trees.

Here's the new inhabitant of our deck! I wish you could smell it across the Internets, but you'll have to trust me. It smells crazy good.

Where sunflowers come from.

Images from the garden

Chris' dad and step-mom arrive today to visit us for the weekend and as I watered the garden this morning, I thought about how far the deck has come in terms of decoration and becoming guest-ready. Last night at dusk I lay out on one of the lounge chairs, the air finally cool enough to breathe, and had the familiar feeling of loving where we live. The moon was full and Oscar was happy to lay under the chair, swishing his tail.

It was a nice night.

Herb garden update

The herbs are thriving outside- all except the basil growing alongside the tomatoes. It's so windy up on our deck that the poor guys look war-torn. Here are the herbs, holding their ground:

Cilantro: this screams out salsa. Must do that this weekend.



What exactly does one do with oregano?



Even the tomato plants have trouble with the wind:



Basil nursery in toilet paper rolls...



The only thriving basil left; could be because it's been protected by the big sunflowers.

Sneaky Peas.

Attention lovers of Where's Waldo?: feast your eyes on the following pictures and try to find some sugar peas.




Did you see them? Cause I water these plants everyday and I never saw them until yesterday. Sugar Peas would make good chameleons... here's a closer look:




Now it's not enough for dinner yet, but I think I will be taking a couple of these guys off the vine tonight to stimulate more pea production. Exciting news for the little garden that could...

Cucumber spotting!

The cucumber crop has seen better days. I haven't yet planted them in their new outdoor homes, but they've been living on the picnic table for the last week or so. Here they are, looked ragged:



But last night I noticed something happening on one of the plants. Holy moly, it's a spiky cucumber!



So this looks a little too much like a pickle for my tastes (yes, I am a pickle hater), so I am hoping it keeps growing. Grow, little one, grow!


Either way, veggies are on their way!

Cat grass goes to seed

Here's what's interesting about plants like cat grass: just as it starts going to seed at the top, new shoots start again at the bottom. I like that symmetry.






Also, this could be the only cat grass that ever made it that far since SOMEONE is still uninterested as hell.