Playing in the Dirt

Black Pearl


My Sweetie and I spent the day gardening, both at our house and at the community garden.

At the house I planted impatiens in six window boxes and a hanging basket. Two coral geraniums went into a large cobalt blue ceramic pot.

When My Sweetie moved here in 1997, he planted roses for me. Even though I love roses, I did not have the patience to coddle them. Last year he cried uncle. No more hybrid tea roses. Today we planted two Knockout roses which are supposed to be less susceptible to black spot, mildew, and other ills that befall the tea roses. Let's hope they live up to their reputation.

Yesterday we had a yard of bedding soil delivered to the community garden to make our raised beds...well, raised again.

In our plot I planted seven tomatoes (Black Pearl, 2 Caspian Pink, 2 Raspberry Lyanna, Sungold, and a potato leaf one), four Mei Qing choi, two Ichiban eggplant, Siam Queen basil, and Dark Purple Opal basil.

Ichiban eggpant

I also planted lettuce seed (Black Seeded Simpson, Oakleaf, and Salad Bowl), Genovese squash, Golden zucchini, and peas, Oregon Sugar Pod II, to be exact.

My Sweetie watered everything at both locations.

Our division of labor is dictated by our bodies. I can still squat without pain so I plant. He still has superior strength so he loads the wheelbarrow and dumps it where I indicate. It works well for us.