Spring Longings

Being a true Entwife my thoughts turn to gardening every spring. I can’t wait for the weather to warm up and the sun to start shining (which has been pretty late coming this year) so I can get my hands into the dirt then watch things grow. My mouth waters at the thought of that first ripe tomato, straight from the vine, or a yellow summer squash cooked less than five minutes after being picked. I roam greenhouses looking for just the right flowers to make things interesting. No standard petunias here, I want what the neighbors don’t have.

The catch?

I live in an apartment. No yard, no garden space. I do have a porch, though. It’s about eight feet by four and a half feet. Not much to work with, still, everyone finds my place by looking for the plants. The weather this year has been cold and rainy and my little porch garden is not yet thriving but this is how it looked last summer.

The gap between pots in the middle is essential. Let’s just say that tripping over a pot of herbs with a watering can is not a good experience. Bruising and bloodshed were involved. Thankfully, pictures were not. Watering before the neighbors are up has benefits. Good with living things – yes. Graceful … not so much.

The door on the left is mine. This little stand is great; the rosemary, thyme, and oregano love this spot. Plus if I brush anything on the way in, it smells fantastic.

Last summer I also commandeered a flowerbed in front of the building, although tenants are not supposed to plant anything. It was choked with weeds and looked horrible. I have to walk past it every time I come home and couldn’t stand it any more. The neighbors loved it,

especially the sunflowers which were over six feet tall.

The building was sold over the winter, to an owner who is putting a lot more into the place. He was a bit skeptical at first when I told him that a lot of those little plants weren’t weeds, but now that things are starting to bloom he invited me to take over the flowerbed that opened up when he pulled out some manky shrubs. I take this as a compliment. I’m thinking snapdragons.