Greetings, Rural Sprout readers, It’s been a lovely weekend here in my neck of the woods. The adult kids were in town. We had the most lovely Saturday together.  I packed a
picnic lunch of cold fried chicken, Israel salad, and peaches tossed with chopped basil and goat cheese. We loaded up our bikes on the bike rack and headed off. We ate sitting at the edge of a creek, feet in the water and paper plates on our laps. After lunch, we went for a bike ride, hit up a local brewery, then came home and got ready to go celebrate a dear friend of the family who graduated with their doctorate. (Congratulations, Shannon!) It was pretty wonderful. While here, the kids helped out in the garden, filling up the last two raised beds. As I was showing them around the garden and telling them about what I was growing, I was reminded of how much of gardening is about trusting the
process.  As I started this new garden from scratch this year, I got all of my plants in very late. Most of them were planted in mid-July. Even with the late start, I’m harvesting vegetables in August with more on the way. Too often, we fret about the timing of our gardens. We worry about a late spring and how it will affect our growing season. We worry about too much rain or too little.  Yet, somehow, even when it feels as though everything is moving slowly and this will finally be the year we don’t get to enjoy fresh homegrown vegetables, it all comes together in the end. Like my garden. Like our good friend’s PhD. Trust the process, friends. Keep on putting in the effort, and you’ll get there in the end, whether it’s in or out of the garden. Â
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If you want tons of Christmas cactus blooms in December, there are some important things you need to do in August.
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Putting tomatoes in the fridge negatively impacts their texture and flavor. Learn how to store tomatoes for the best flavor.
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Some ornamentals, despite their beauty, should never be planted directly in the ground. These beauties are for containers only!
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These red flags reveal raised bed soil that needs a little compost and TLC. Here's what they are and how to save your soil.
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You want the best garden soil possible, and sometimes that means using a little creativity when it comes to sourcing soil amendments. If you've been questioning how to use bone meal in the garden,
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Did you know there are people out there who hate mulberries? I know a few, and I'm sure you do too. Personally, I love mulberries, and by the end of this article, you'll have several
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Urine is an excellent natural fertilizer and among the very oldest ways to create fertile soil. After all, pee plays quite a crucial role in the earth's nitrogen cycle. Mammals (including us), birds, reptiles, amphibians,
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Agapanthus, often called the "African Lily," is immediately recognizable with its stunning, spherical clusters of blue or white flowers that bloom on tall stalks above lush, green strap-like leaves. They're popular among gardeners for their
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There is something wonderfully charming about old terracotta pots. The mineral stains and verdant green algae creeping along their sides suggest they've been in use since Beatrix Potter was writing about Mr. McGregor's rabbit issues.
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Garden for long enough and you'll eventually find yourself surrounded by so much fresh produce that you couldn't possibly eat it all quickly enough. As far as problems go, it's a good one to have.
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Did you miss a newsletter or want to read a few for inspiration? Find past newsletters here. Don't forget to check out our Facebook page for daily updates. That's all for this week, Rural Sprout Readers. |
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