A Garden in Banmanland

I've been collecting pots for a few weeks now.  Somehow in the 10 years that I have been keeping a home of my own, I have never had a desire to keep plants.  I suppose I was too busy growing babies!  This year I am so excited to do some gardening.  I will let you know how it all works out.

 Today after taking the girls to soccer and ballet, we spent a little time outside.  Here are two of my pots with their new inhabitants.  The plant on the left is a citronella plant (Mosquito plant...hopefully it works to keep them away!) the other is a begonia.  Isn't she pretty?

Two more pots, one with geraniums and one with another bubblegum pink begonia.  I may need to put a third geranium in the big pot...

Have I shown you our retaining wall?  That went up last year.  I guess it's been in the background of pictures.  Anyways, it's back filled now with soil and we are planing a garden!  This is another new venture that we are going to take on as a family.  Should be fun!

I am not a fan of how ugly that dirt hill looks.  What is the solution?  If you have any ideas, let me know!!!  I am planting zinnias and sunflowers along the back of the garden but they won't grow tall for a while (if at all) and I want a quick fix!!

Here's another view of the garden.  We are trying "square foot gardening" .  I say "we" very liberally because so far I have purchased the plants and drawn up a "plan" and Mike has planted them so this is most definitely not an "I" type of a thing! If you have any tips, please share!

 
Now let me introduce you to our new yard!  This is at the end of the deck.  Luxurious grass!  Soon the fence will be complete.  We are so excited to have a "real backyard" with grass for the kids to roll around on!

 Look at that pretty grass!  Cait Bear is going to have lots of fun toddling around back here while I am "gardening" (ha ha, it makes me laugh to think of myself with dirty hands, all one with the bugs and dirt!).

 This should be a fun summer project that the whole family can enjoy together.  Stay tuned for updates as our little garden grows.