This is how the garden looked a month ago in April. I doctored the photo quite extensively to make the brown appear a little more . . . green. April around here is such a colorfully dull month. At that point, my husband and I had yet to extend the deer fencing around the oval garden and bird feeder. Nothing had been done, really, except to clear away weeds and debris, and to start the seeds indoors.

A month later, this is how the garden now stands. I didn’t retouch the photo at all, so you can see what 30 days of sunshine and above-average temps will do. The deer fencing has been extended, which makes our total gardening area rather large. I used to *hate* the deer fencing, because it feels intrusive to the rest of the yard. However, I have come to regard the enclosed area as a separate room. I rather love it now!

See the stone garden bench on the left-hand side of the photo? Though I told my husband not to give me anything other than time to clear off my desk for Mother’s Day (which he did), he gave me the bench I’ve been coveting since girlhood. I have a thing for stone benches! He still needs to level it for me, but it’s a wonderful addition to the garden.

Here’s Bridget, the resident waterer, about to drench a raspberry cane with a bucket of water. Just a little drink, Bridget! Don’t ya just love that sassy look? I get it a lot. Actually, the sun was just in her eyes at that moment. Her shirt says Trouble Maker, by the way. While I don’t normally purchase clothes with such derogatory labels on them, I couldn’t refuse its accuracy.

And here are Hannah and Jacob, working in the dirt. Jacob’s sporting a lovely Transformers tattoo on either cheek (in case you’re wondering what that glob is on his face). Ian picked up a few pint-sized tools the other day, and they’ve been a BIG hit with Jacob. He loves the month between when the garden is open but the dirt is free of plants. He can get in there and dig to his heart’s content, and he’ll literally roll around in it. You should see the state of my bathtub by the end of each day! I’m convinced children don’t need a pile of toys; they just need a mound of dirt!

So the plants are enjoying their first day outside. Many people make the mistake of transferring their plants to the ground too soon, though. Between the cool temps, wind, and direct sun, you run the risk of killing what you have before it’s even produced anything. Peppers and tomatoes, especially, need to be babied.

I “harden off” my plants starting around May 15th (our last frost date), by introducing them to the elements for a few hours each day over a period of 7-10 days. I try to pick a starting date that is overcast and not too windy; I don’t want to scorch the plants, either by the sun or wind. At night, I bring the plants back inside. Each day, I let them stay out a little longer than the day before. Yes, the transferring from indoors to outdoors and back again can be tedious, but I sure as heck don’t want to ruin a month’s worth of hard work.

There’s not a gardener as itchy to get in the garden as I am. I’ve been pushing around dirt for the last month. Rather sad, really. Plus, my seedlings are growing so big, they really need a new home . . .