What Is Your Favorite Part of Gardening?

[nosta]

the morning walk thru with a fresh cup of coffe in hand. Sun not quite up and the neighbors still sleeping, very peaceful

this morning walk thru was not pleasant. Thunderstorms last night knocked over the beans,squash and some peppers.

[digitS']

I like just being there - evening is best for me because morning reviews show me what work needs to be done that day .

I like the lawn experience of rinsing the harvested veggies out on the grass in the shade of a tree.

I like bringing some of the garden into the kitchen. I can't think of a more positive way to benefit my health and sense of healthy living !

I like the creation and use of the environment and my role in it. The garden itself: where I can shuffle around with my eyes on my paths, stopping to enjoy the color and texture of the garden plants, looking at the birds and up into the clear blue sky or the moving clouds. Then, I like the association of my lawn as a staging area for the garden and kitchen. Finally, I've got the kitchen sink, stove and table! There isn't much more required in life .

Steve

[tomf]

Eating what I grow.

[garden5]

I like the sense of accomplishment I get from growing all of these lush plants and good vegetables all from seed.

I also like trying new things each year and the surprises that come with watching a new crop grow that you've never grown before.

[stella1751]

this morning walk thru was not pleasant. Thunderstorms last night knocked over the beans,squash and some peppers.

Sorry to hear this, Nosta. Can they be saved?

I dreaded this morning's walk-through, after having watched hail bounce off the lawn last evening. However, I got lucky. The habaneros got shredded, and there's mud-splash on the plants that I haven't yet mulched, but that's about it. They'll all recover.

My hybrid big chile II peppers looked especially fine this morning. They can definitely take a beating and emerge winners. I had a cup of coffee in a lawn chair facing that bed!

[soil]

stella your growing for the big chili peppers again? I collected some seed from a roadside mexican stand months ago. anyways the chili peppers I got the seeds from were huge, the one I took seeds out and planted from was 11 and 3/4 inch. there was a few in the bag that looked bigger but were broken. we should start a big pepper thread.

oh yea my favorite part about gardening is watching nature do its thing.

[Gary350]

I love eating the fresh vegatables. They all taste much better than grocery store vegatables especially the tomatoes and corn. I also love to Can in mason jars so we can eat garden vegatables all winter. Lots of tomatoes, beans, and corn. Chili, vegatable soup and more all winter. Tacos, pico de gallo, salsa, fried Okra, fried squash, sliced tomatoes, potatoes, garden guacamole, greens, salads, corn on the cob, cabbage rolls, stuffed bell peppers, stir fly, WOW, how does it get better than this.

I like to hoe early in the morning and late in the evening. I like to set under the shade tree with a glass if ice tea and watch the birds.

[stella1751]

stella your growing for the big chili peppers again? I collected some seed from a roadside mexican stand months ago. anyways the chili peppers I got the seeds from were huge, the one I took seeds out and planted from was 11 and 3/4 inch. there was a few in the bag that looked bigger but were broken. we should start a big pepper thread.

oh yea my favorite part about gardening is watching nature do its thing.

Soil, your roadside stand peppers sound extremely interesting. I think the thread is an excellent idea! I'm starting it now.

[LLandry11]

My husband and I are just starting our very first garden. We planted our potatoes and tomatoes today. So exciting! So far, my favorite part has been spending all this time outside. Even though it's a lot of work, it's so relaxing at the same time. After reading your posts, I think I will make a morning walk through a must, with my cup of coffee. And I never thought about talking to my new "babies", but I'm such a chatterbox that I think conversation should come fairly easy. I am loving this forum so far, keep the posts coming!

[nosta]

this morning walk thru was not pleasant. Thunderstorms last night knocked over the beans,squash and some peppers.

Sorry to hear this, Nosta. Can they be saved?

I dreaded this morning's walk-through, after having watched hail bounce off the lawn last evening. However, I got lucky. The habaneros got shredded, and there's mud-splash on the plants that I haven't yet mulched, but that's about it. They'll all recover.

My hybrid big chile II peppers looked especially fine this morning. They can definitely take a beating and emerge winners. I had a cup of coffee in a lawn chair facing that bed!

I think they all will be fine. I let the ground dry out and then stood the beans back up. I firmed the soil at the base of they plant and they are looking better(Bush Blue Lake's). They peppers were already staked but I hadnt tied them all off yet(they are now). The squash just rolled over but will be fine I think. I'm not going to try and roll them back as the leaf stalks are fragile and break easily. If anything doesnt make it, I'll just re-plant. Thats a good thing about the southeast...long growing season.

Thanks for asking and I'm glad you made out with only a little damage.

[gixxerific]

My favorite part is as well the early morning check. I do also love hand watering my plants not only are they getting watered but it gives me a chance to get up close and personal and see how things are, check for damage, etc.

Than there is the shopping all the nursery's, the sitting and staring at the garden wondering what else you can shove in there it goes on and on.

Let's not forget the harvest.

[farmerlon]

Sounds like most folks like the morning visit. I have to agree. ...

Yes, I find mornings in the garden to be very satisfying... Especially when the afternoon high temps get into the 90-100 degree range... 5:00am rocks!!!