Therapy

I am beyond excited about our garden this year for a number of reasons.
#1) We have fruit!!!!
The peach tree that we planted in our front yard 3 years ago FINALLY has peaches. I think it's because Aaron threatened to tear it out if it didn't produce this year. Scare tactics work in the plant world.
We also have sour cherries on the tree we planted last year (that was nearly dead when I bought it, but hey, for $7 it was worth the risk). Unfortunately, I think the "self pollinating" pear tree wants a mate, so we'll put one in this year and see if we get pears next fall.

Our brambles patch is out. of. con. trizzle. Last year I scored a zillion berry bushes for $2 on clearance at Lowe's. They survived the winter, have doubled in size, and we will have a haul of fresh raspberries,

blackberries,
and even some blueberries very soon (thank you crazy acidic Arkansas soil).My side yard is full of wild blackberries. In the past, the animals have gotten to them first, but NOT THIS YEAR!

#2) We have a fence! Now I can share with the neighbors by choice, rather than by, "oh hey, look out the window, the neighbor is headed home with 12 of the tomatoes I was going to make salsa with, today."

#3) expansion! Now that we have the fence up, I have moved the garden beds (one shovel of dirt at a time) to an area of the yard with less potential to be used as anything else. It took several days to move, but it was worth it.

This year, the Willy Garden is also home to: -3 different varieties of Tomatoes (there are 14 plants in all. Yes. FOURTEEN. To say 'we got carried away' is an under statement)
-Zucchini-Straightneck and Crookneck Yellow Squash
-Bell Peppers
-Anaheim peppers
-Jalapenos
and from seeds:
-Green Beans
-Watermelons
-3 varieties of carrots
-Broccoli
-2 types of leaf lettuce
-spinach
-green onions
-cilantro
-ornamental gourds

I am only using 3 of my self-watering containers right now. I had plans to transplant a few tomato plants into them, but they got so big so fast, I think it might be too late. I need to try growing something else in them.

I can't wait to get some mint and basil starters from the Farmer's Market this weekend! This year, I think I'm going to grow regular Basil, Lime Basil, and Cinnamon Basil. Yummy! I'm not even sure what to DO with the mint, but I think it smells good, it's pretty, and it reminds me of my grandma, so I think I'll put some in a pot by my front door and see if it survives.

Does anyone have a recipe for sour cherry pie filling?
I think these bad boys will be ready to harvest any day now, and I really need pie.