My Dad and I are planting a garden this spring. It’s more appropriate for me to say that my Dad started the garden because I mentioned the idea of wanting a cutting garden to him this past winter and he obliged me. I’ve been a longtime fan of Floret Flower Farm, and sent him a link to her blog, My Dad graciously allowed space for flowers among his vegetable garden for me. This spring he got started on the planning and doing the manual labor.
I’ve planted gardens before, but not like my Dad. I’ve never been as organized. He has a lot more experience and been gardening for sixty years. When I first saw it, I was fascinated by how linear and methodical it was, whereas I’ve always just planted mine in basic rows with labels.
The garden is covered with landscaping fabric to help keep the weeds from breaking through. The garden is also fenced in with rabbit fencing. If you’re not familiar with rabbit fencing, it has smaller holes around the bottom to keep wildlife out of your garden. The landscaping fabric doesn’t keep out all of the weeds. It will cut down on a lot of the weeding though.
The vegetables are planted in the center of the garden, and the flowers and herbs around the perimeter. Most of the flowers are perennials started from bulbs, but we do have a few starting from seeds. The plants growing in the center of the garden each have a tall stake to assist with watering later in the summer, when the larger, vine plants are grown out so much so that you can’t identify them.
It will be awhile before we are able to harvest enough flowers to make arrangements. I did get to bring home my first daffodil this weekend. I didn’t take a picture of it, but there is a picture of my parents’ dog who likes to carry her stick out to the garden with us. She lays in the middle of the garden and likes to sneak an occasional chew on the flowers that are popping up. If it sounds like a peaceful scene, it is. The birds chirp, and there is a gentle breeze. I take it all in too,feeling grateful for my Dad doing all of this work to lay the foundation for a cutting garden.
Does your family have a garden? What are your go-to tips for set-up in the spring?
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