soaphouse's Blog

Successes and Failures 2011
Aug 30, 2011 | 2:32 PM PST
Tags: success , failure , baby

As August comes to an end and we adjust to life as a family of 5 – I am reminded that it is now time again to complete my annual Successes and Failures list. I have done one of these for 4 years in a row (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010) – this one to be my fifth. I tend to reference these frequently in the seasons ahead and it is always a good reminder as I plan my spring garden every year.

 

Successes:

 

The Biggest Success of them all: The arrival of our third girl! She was born a mere 10 days ago and is just a joy!

 

White Patty Pan Squash: This season I was much too ambitious in the garden and my pregnant self could not keep up with my wonderful plans – so, I had a lesson in what will grow with little to NO maintenance – white patty pans are one of them – they went crazy!

Zucchini: If I had kept on top of watering, these would have done even better

Sunflowers and Zinnias: They made a wonderful pop of color in the veggie beds

Lemon Cucumbers: How many things can a person do with a cucumber??? – that is all I have to say!!!

 

Failures:

Caladiums: These did so well last year, but I believe my lack of watering made for a very sad season.

Just about everything else in the veggie beds: I planted all my tomatoes, eggplants, squash, beans, etc….then I hit my third trimester of pregnancy and well, completely ignored my garden! Better luck next year!

 

Other things I have learned this season:

• Don’t plan a full fledged vegetable garden when you will be 6-9 mo pregnant with your third child
• A great deal of my perennials and shrubs are VERY forgiving and seemed to have survived despite my lack of maintenance
• Don’t buy a cheap weed-eater if you garden like we do here at soapHOUSE – picture: overheating, melting and parts flying! Not a good thing!
• The weeds at the creek can grow a little taller that I thought before things look horrible
• There is a season for everything. When it is not your season for getting down and dirty in the garden – take notice of the beauty of God’s creations and remember that he doesn’t need our help to keep them going :)
  

And my aspirations for fall:

• Enjoy my baby!

• Plant some mums in the front for fall color

• Mulch in February

 

 

-soaphouse