heliotrope

When I was in high school, my email address contained the word heliotrope, along with an inordinate amount of x's. I thought it was clever; somehow brainy and mysterious but also religous at the same time. A conversation starter-- any plant who follows the sun (or Son). My friend Paul Higgins once riduciled me. He used words like assanine and ridiculous, and more that ten years later, I agree with him. Funny, Paul was an atheist at the time, and if I had to guess which one of my friends would later attend a relgious university and structure our life around the church calendar, Paul would have been last on list. I would have been wrong. Paul is now one of the most faithful people I know, where as I am currently....unaffilated. Ten years is a long time.
All that aside, plants really do follow the sun and my sun flowers have curved stems from trying to stay close to the light.

For your viewing pleasure, pictures of my sunflowers.

inspiration for garden projects at Lizard Loop

My gardening background is brief enough. I was raised (semi-nomadically) in both New York City and various spots in central Florida. I have always loved the idea of gardens, self sufficiency, and all things pastoral, but believed that I had an inherent lack of skill in handling the plant friends I love so much.

During my early adulthood, I lived in a house with a big yard, dozens of climbing rosebushes older than my husband and I combined, and ample space for new projects. But none of them seemed to take hold. For example, I tried planting a bougainvillea in a sunny spot, and even now, 6 years later, it still hasn't grown a bit.

Years passed and I left. My new home, an apartment/townhouse, came with a little slip of yard in both the front and back, but there was hardly any soil at all! Oak tree roots, sand, and gravel seemed to be the predominant ingredients in the mixture. I decided to try my hand at composting in the fall so we could have some soil on hand for potting little herbs or houseplants. My roommate suggested it, and since I do cook a lot it seemed like a good way to not waste our food scraps.

It turned out exponentially better than I thought it would be. The compost took off with a fervor and started to host new life, seedlings from our favorite foods. And, after years of playing thrifty-housewife, I saw amazing potential in my new project. Was there EVER anything more practical than a magic spot that absorbs what you can't use and gives back something you can use?

Momentous occasion!

Tonight for dinner, I made Moo Shoo Beef lettuce cups topped with bean sprouts THAT I GREW! The first meal made with food grown (or sprouted) here in the Bohler homestead. I can't wait until I am planing meals around what's ready to be picked.
Also! All of the vegetables in the patch have sprouted! All of them! We may be swimming in squash and vucchini very soon. I have visions of giving it away as favors at the upcoming Bohler-Park wedding.
In other news, you may have noticed that someone else has posted. Welcome to Kathleen, who I went to Lesley College with and who also has a lovely little boy. She is growing things is pots on her porch but she knows much more about this than I do. There may be some other voices joining the conversation.