For the love of gardening.

"How deeply seated in the human heart is the liking for gardens and gardening."
-Alexander Smith

"God Almighty first planted a garden.  And indeed, it is the purest of human pleasures." 
-Francis Bacon

Surely even those among us who do not like to garden, still enjoy the beauty of a garden.  Whether it be found in your backyard, or a park somewhere.  The sound of a good breeze, sweeping through the leaves in the tree tops.  The pleasant hum of bees enjoying the flowers.  The happy birdsong constantly being sung.  The fragrance of the flowers, herbs, or even the veggies growing within it.

Ahhhh.  It's spring.

And that means it's time to plant.  Last night Bree and I planned out the garden.  We think we'll be able to add at least two more raised bed, and a bed for potatoes.  I even included a plan for re-planting areas where late spring, or early summer ripening plants will allow for a follow up crop of some sort.  I don't usually bother with follow up planting, but I want to increase the quantity and variety of what we plant this year.  I'm pretty excited about it.  Bree and I were out today planting the celery I've had in water, and some onions.  We plan on putting in green and sugar snap peas tomorrow, along with some lettuce and Chinese cabbage.  I'm also planning on using some green, bunching onions the same way I did the celery, and seeing how that will do.  I'll probably go ahead and plant that out tomorrow as well. 

We also did a bit of long term planning for fruit trees, blueberry bushes and possibly some blackberry canes.  I'd love to do all of it this year, but patience must have a place.  Besides, 

"One lifetime is never enough to accomplish one's horticultural goals.  If a garden is a site for the imagination, how can we be very far from the beginning?" -Francis Cabot Lowell

And,

"Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help.  Gardening is an instrument of grace." -Mary Sarton

I very much agree with these, and will leave you with just a couple more.

"Where you have a plot of land, however small, plant a garden.  Staying close to the soil is good for the soul."  -Spencer W. Kimball

"I think this is what hooks one to gardening: it is the closest one can come to being present at creation." -Phyllis Theroux

Good luck with your garden this year!