In which I realize that my thumb isn't as green as I'd like...

One of the best features of our new apartment, Readers, is the fact that we have a balcony.

Since this picture was taken, the tulips died. They have been replaced with tomato plants. 

I LOVE our balcony!

It's so wonderful to just have the option of enjoying my morning coffee outside if I want.

My husband and I are in LOVE with gardening. Flowers, herbs, vegetables...one of the things that my husband and I share is that we both relish in a feeling of granola-esque smugness and delight when we realize that we can produce our own food.

I'm sad to say that since picture has been taken, this pea plant shriveled up and died. (The one pea we got off of it was yummy, though). 

We've been putting together what our landlord has called our "balcony forest" since March. Unfortunately, in my eagerness to get started, I ordered and started planting our herbs/veggies WAY too early.

Readers, you guessed it...the cilantro and basil died. The dill seems to be on it's last legs as well...

And as you can tell by the pictures above, Readers,  many of my plants came up to a LOVELY start...but shriveled up as soon as the weather got warmer (except for that one pea vine, though. I think the pea vine died because there was a nasty crack at the bottom). I'd say that, sadly, only about a half of what I originally planted survived.

I wouldn't say that I'm an accidental plant killer. but my formerly glorious green thumb has gotten a bit rusty as of late. I'm just not used to container gardening, I guess...

Luckily for us, a few of the veggies we started were hearty enough to make it. I bought a spearmint plant that's starting to look like it has doubled in size AT LEAST, and the two other pea vines I stagger-planted seem to be coming up nice and healthy.

I guess that it helps when you plant them when it's warm enough. Who knew?

Plus, John built me a vertical garden, where we planted onions and butter lettuce. The lettuce seems to be doing okay (as long as I keep it watered), but the onions are going NUTS in there! I don't know if it's because of the soil or the location, but my green onions are shooting up like little green rockets!

Yes, that is an old shoe organizer. We punched holes in the bottom of each pocket for drainage. Since this has been taken, we've harvested two butter lettuce heads ("Tom Thumb" variety, only about the size of a baseball). 

I get just so much energy and joy out of planting things.

If I had to choose a favorite plant in our garden, it would definitely be our cherry tree seedling:

About a year ago, John found a cherry pit on the ground that looked like it had sprouted. On a whim, he planted it in a small pot and put it on our windowsill.

Sure enough, it grew! And it seems to be coming out of its winter hibernation! Since the above picture was taken (these were all taken mid-April), a teeny-tiny branch seems to be coming out of one side, and at least three more green leaves are visible!

I've taken to calling the lil' sprout our "metaphor tree".

Because we love and care for it in the same way we love, care, and work at our marriage <3

Anyways, If you're wondering where I've been during the past month, Readers, now you know! I've been on my balcony, up to my elbows in potting mix and fertilizer!

Until next time!

<3