Fall in the Garden

This December marks year two since we packed up our things for *hopefully* the final time to settle into the land we had been praying for. We strived for so long to make something happen. A place we could live and have our nursery by our side. We searched coast to coast for years and were finally a day away from closing on our dream property in Tennessee, when it all came to a full stop and didn't happen.

A day after the house fell through my mom found out she was battling cancer. Although there were so many emotions, there was also a sense of peace, knowing that my plans didn't work out because I was meant to be here. That was four years ago now.

Since then, we have moved two more times, renovating house after house, saving, so we could afford land while surrendering our will and our timing. I'm so thankful for what I planned with the best intentions didn't work out, that God had a plan much more beautiful for us than I could have dreamed. This is all a blessing and I'm so thankful! 

These photos are from late summer into this fall and I hope you enjoy a little glimpse around our garden. 

As the year comes to a close, I am snuggled inside with the girls, cozy by the fire, clipping our garden magazines and dreaming of the year ahead.

Seeds!

Flowers! 

Scroll to the bottom for "garden notes".

All these flowers lay sleeping now in the garden beds as we finally had our first frost! I love to reflect back on all the seeds started this time last year and how they grew. What do I want to sow again? Who needs to be moved or divided? What new varieties will we add?!

This year we extended this fenced garden to have four veggie beds closer to the house, built a new fence, added a stained glass window to the greenhouse and gave it a fresh layer of paint, caulk and shingles. 

In the veggie garden we grew our favorite tomato, Sun Gold. We grew the most generous kale that has just now finally stopped putting out leaves (we ate this every day of summer by cooking it on the stove top with nutritional yeast, salt, lemon juice and olive oil till it wilted) We grew strawberries, but I don't think I ate one (raccoons and children). There were ground cherries, celery, chives, purple pole beans, zinnias, dahlias, snap peas, spinach and some herbs.

Changes for next spring: Net the strawberries (for the raccoons, not the children), grow cucamelons ( they are bite size cucumbers that look like miniature watermelons. Grow winter squash and pumpkins for a pumpkin patch party. More basil, more kale and lots of juicy melons! Start arugula and spinach from seed. 

Net anything growing along the new fence. We made the square openings slightly too big and deer just enjoyed themselves all summer :) 

What are you growing again that you loved? Are you making any changes? 

Happy Gardening!