The Joy of Starting a Vegetable Garden

Thrifting WonderlandFlowers, Food, Gardening21 Comments on The Joy of Starting a Vegetable Garden

Hello Friends, and welcome to the Blog today!

Starting a vegetable garden really is a leap of faith, isn’t it? You tuck those tiny seeds into the soil and cross your fingers, hoping that months down the road, something delicious will come of it. There’s a fair bit of worry, a whole lot of hope, and—let’s be honest—a little luck involved too.

This year, I planted some bean seeds and mixed in a generous helping of kitchen compost. Then I waited to see what would happen. Watching the garden wake up felt a little bit like magic.

In the mornings walking the curved path to the garden anticipation builds for what I may find when I round the corner of the house. Each day the garden is a little bit different showing parts of itself not seen before. What surprises will the garden hold today?

The first raspberry has slipped free from its little green covering, its deep red color peeking out from beneath the vine. It promises that perfect mix of sweet and tart—such a treat. It’s the very first ripe fruit of the season in my garden, and a sure sign that summer is truly on its way. The blueberries, with their blushing skins, won’t be far behind.

I’ve been harvesting cherry tomatoes from the plants potted on the front porch. They are so lush and sweet when they ripen on the vine. The tomato plants in the vegetable garden are flowering. It won’t be long until little tomatoes are growing there, too. these miniature tomatoes are great in salads and in many of the recipes I cook during the summer months.

Acorn squash is forming on the squash plants that came up as volunteers. I transplanted them earlier in the season to see what would happen and we now have little acorn squash. What fun!

In fact, the squash plants have gone a little bit crazy and are growing everywhere in the garden laden with flowers and little squash vegetables. I’m not sure yet what kind of squash they are. It will be a surprise when they grow large enough to tell.

The bean seeds I actually planted are flowering now and I expect some beans in the next few weeks. there’s nothing better than beans cooked fresh from the garden. The flavor is so bright and delectable. It says summer has arrived, sit back and enjoy.

This year, I actually planted Brussels sprouts on purpose—a first for me! I’ve never tried growing them before, but now there they are, tiny sprouts forming right along the stem just like they’re supposed to. It’s such a fun surprise to see them developing. I’m continually amazed by the variety and wonder packed into the vegetable garden—there’s always something new to learn and marvel at.

Some gladiolas are blooming in the garden adding lots of color to the scene. Cone flowers are not far behind. They both come back every year and I look forward to their blooms.

The nasturtium seeds I planted have really taken off, filling the garden with cheerful blooms. They’ve added such a lovely splash of color—and not just in the garden! I’ve been tucking the blossoms into our salads, where they bring both beauty and a peppery burst of flavor. Along with the herbs growing all throughout the garden, these nasturtiums have made spring meals especially fresh and flavorful.

I did plant some peppers in the garden and they are now beginning to form little peppers. they are supposed to be bite sized peppers so we will splanted a few pepper plants in the garden this year, and they’re just beginning to form their first little peppers. These are supposed to be bite-sized—perfect for snacking or tossing into a quick dish—so we’ll see how they turn out! Right now, they’re a bright green, but if all goes as planned, they’ll ripen into a vibrant red. More anticipation, and just a bit more waiting… but that’s part of the fun in gardening, isn’t it?

I know you’re supposed to leave plenty of space between plants, but I just can’t bring myself to pull out a little seedling that’s managed to push through the soil. It’s made it this far, stretching toward the sun, trying its best to grow and produce something good. So yes, the garden’s a bit crowded in places—but I like to think of it as full of life and possibility, with every plant getting its chance to shine.

I’ll leave you with a few snapshots of the flowers blooming in my garden right now. It’s a joyful profusion of color, shape, and texture—a living painting that makes me smile, and sometimes even laugh out loud at its unexpected beauty. Wishing you all the joys that come with tending a garden. Until next time—happy growing!