Every year we go to a strawberry farm to pick berries for jam.  One farm we visited was hydroponic.  It was fascinating to see all the lovely plants growing vertically.  There is great hope that using hydroponics will enable us to make more food, especially in areas of the world which have poor soil.

This farm had cute little signs with fun garden facts, and I couldn’t resist taking snapshots to share.

Fairchild Tropical Gardens recently added an amazing indoor butterfly exhibit with 3,000 butterflies in the conservatory.  Next door there is a chrysalis room where more beauties transform everyday.  It is now a must see in Miami. 

Our friends invited us to marvel at the garden this morning.  It was a bit chilly, which meant less flying, but it was easier to examine the butterflies.  We were given a card to identify species, which Max was remarkably adept at doing.  The best word to decribe this morning’s adventure:

magic.

Which is your favorite? 

Mine is this last shot, which captured the boys excitement over seeing two Brown Owl Butterflies together.  My favorite butterfly was as big as my hand, purple and orange and would not sit still for a picture.  I felt like the paps trying to hunt it down, but I never got the shot.

Once again I am stepping out of my comfort zone and into the dirt.

That’s right, folks.  I’m taking my pink polished thumb and willing it to turn green.  My mom is an avid gardener, and my grandmother was too.  I am mostly a failure in this department, but every year since I got married I give it a whirl. 

Growing my own food is right in line with my parenting and food philosophies, but it takes a lot of effort and skill.  South Florida seems to be a particularly challenging landscape, but this year I am having more success.  Perhaps that’s because I’m actually watering and weeding it.

The year we are growing:

Kale, Kaleidoscope Carrots, Heirloom Tomatoes, Spinach, Arugula, Endive, Radishes, Basil, Rosemary, Chocolate Mint, Oregano, Rainbow Chard, Lemon Thyme, German Thyme, Strawberries, Meyer Lemons and Pineapples

Here we are a month and half from planting day:

The main garden

Basil is doing well!

Radishes from seed are almost ready for harvest.

Excepting one year, this is the longest my tomatoes have ever survived.

A baby from our pineapple field, made from the cut tops of pineapples we ate. Buy one get one free!

After harvesting 7 Meyer Lemons, our tree is blossoming once again. It will be 1 year before we can eat these buds.

New this year, we made a raised bed called The Children’s Garden.

Max and Jack planted and sometimes water this bed. I hope it does a little better.

Here they are planting. It’s hard to photograph while directing the planting.

It has been two weeks since I planted my garden and already the body count is two.  TWO!  Am I only supposed to take care of mammals?  My babies have been flourishing with not even a single close call, but the plants…. Ay, Dios Mio!

The dearly departed include my only yellow pepper plant and one of the tomatoes.  A faulty sprinkler may be to blame because I actually have been watering my plants.  I’ve discovered the importance of my kitchen timer.  My pattern is usually to forget to water my garden or forget to stop watering my garden.  Life with toddlers means my attention is frequently hijacked and my intentions are completely derailed.  The kitchen timer not only reminds me that I must turn off my sprinklers, it also distracts my little ones as they are fascinated by the beep. When it beeps, I drop whatever I’m doing with an air of urgency and point to my ear, hoping they will always allow me to leave so I can respond to the plants or the muffins in the oven.

Elsewhere the garden seems to be doing well.  I woke one day to an uprooted cauliflower, the likely culprit being a 4-legged meower.  I replanted and it’s still struggling along.  The herbs are fine.  The egglant looks strong and the broccoli look dandy to me. 

I am not exactly sure what to do with my lettuce.  It flops over.  Do I harvest those leaves now?  I never know when and how to cut it.  I know it should be able to be harvested several times.  Help, please.

Still haven’t named my garden yet…. I’m open to votes from last week’s post and suggestions.  Here’s hoping the body count remains low.  So sorry tomatoes and peppers.  You know how dearly I loved you.