Garden of Eden: In the beginning....

In the beginning (well, in college, really) there was a great idea. The idea was to buy a couple of beautiful fish in need of a loving home, a small and easy-to-maintain tank with some cute tank accessories that my adoring fish would swim in and out of and live out the rest of their fishy days in perfect bliss. I would feed my fish daily, clean the tank regularly, and be the most splendid fish owner who ever lived.

Less than 1 semester and 10 dead fish later, I realized that the best idea was really had by my mother, who purchased a battery operated photo frame with fake swimming fish inside for my Christmas gift that year. Smart woman. I have a history of murder. A shady past and witnesses. And yet, the urge to nurture continues.

My latest best idea is to grow tomatoes!! Brilliant isn't it? I have had mediocre success with 2 indoor plants and several failed attempts with plants to get to this point of mediocrity. But THIS time, I know I'll be super successful. I just know it. I can feel it in my bones. As a precaution, Mother Earth and Mother Nature: I apologize in advance. This is a precaution only and one that I know is absolutely unnecessary because I'm going to be an awesome gardener. Is that even the right term? Gardener? It sounds funny.

Chris (my husband) and I live in an apartment in Queens, New York but we have a massive deck - massive by NY standards - that has so far remained empty except for a small but frequently used gas grill. Because of the deck's pitch, which is startling at first, and what I thought was an imminent decision to move into a better apartment, I was reluctant to ever put anything on the deck. Why buy anything that will just have to be sold when we win the lottery and move on up, to the east side? (Truth be told, I like the west side better, but I'll settle for the hoitier-toitier neighborhood because the tune is catchy. But I digress.) Six years and 1 deep recession later, we have decided to stay in this apartment for at least another 2 years. This new information has allowed my brain to get creative....

Tomatoes! My tomato idea was so brilliant I immediately took a bus to Home Depot thinking I would just get 1 plant and 1 pot. Right. I was now a novice gardener, having spent $30 on 2 tomato plants, 1 basil plant, soil, tomato props and 2 pots. I have to say that I felt really good after this purchase. I can't say it's BETTER than getting some awesome piece of clothing on sale, but it's right up there. I'm getting back to nature (or introducing myself, anyway), and going to be able to provide homegrown veggies for Chris and me. This has the potential to save us money on cooking ingredients, right? I am nothing if not frugal. Ahem.

Fast forward one week and I am loving life. My garden is so cute and my basil plant is even starting to sprout a new leaf. By all accounts, this is success! But my deck still seems empty. And at the end of the summer, how much are my tomato plant and basil plants really going to produce for us?

The next Friday, I have the day off work so I rent a Zipcar and head back to Home Depot. I know that I'll be buying more than I can carry; soil is heavy after all. So I am prepared with my snazzy rental. Now we're cookin'. In the end, here is my total home garden inventory:

3 tomato plants (1 Big Boy hybrid, 1 Husky Cherry Red hybrid, and 1 Red Beefsteak heirloom)
1 basil plant
2 chive plants
2 strawberry plants (both are of the Quinalt variety)
1 green bell pepper plant
1 red bell pepper plant
4 petunia plants (white, red and purple)
1 orange lily plant

I am a true gardener now. I bought plants and flowers that are already sprouting. Instant gratification. It is no less gratifying, maybe even more so, than if I had started them from seeds. It has been 2 days since my garden binge purchase and I am thrilled. I haven't been this excited about a project in a very long time. There's something about getting in there with your hands and taking care of something that is filling to the soul. I am smart, which is how I have learned that lesson after 1 week of gardening. On the other hand, we'll see how I feel in a few weeks. But I am optimistic.

I have started this blog mainly for myself because I am excited about this project. I also want to share photos, stories and gather any advice I can from family and friends about gardening.

So, with no further ado....let the gardening begin!