Artist in the Garden, May 2016

This was the ideal day for planting!  With plenty of sunshine, I got outside just after 9 a.m. and began the garden work.  It's more therapy than work.  My aching back is now arguing that it still qualifies as work.  Two raised beds, a planting guide in grid form, and a wide variety of seed packets were all ready to go!  We began gardening this way in 2010 and it's an easy, low maintenance way to keep a garden.

A perfect day for planting! Studio plans on hold. Seeds are in the ground!!! #artistonpause #plantingseeds #squarefootgardening #best therapy #sunfilledday

A photo posted by Christy Sheeler (@christysheeler.artist) on May 4, 2016 at 2:46pm PDT

There are quite a few plants already doing well in the soil.  I was pleased to see the beautiful red tulips.  The bulbs have been there for many years, planted before we moved here in 2000.  They are determined to come up and show their faces every year!

The bunching green onions are from seed planted last year.  Soon, they'll have blossoms and then seed.  Last year, I tried the onion bulbs for $1.49/bag.  I had no idea they could be so easy to grow!  We enjoyed small onions all summer long.

The Johnny Jump-Ups are popping up from where they self-sowed last year.  There are several rogue mint plants.  Though I transplanted the main mint plant to an herb bed last year, there continue to be  a few more popping up in the garden bed.

Johnny Jump-Up and rogue mint leaves. They greeted me as I began sowing seeds. #squarefootgardening #artistinthegarden #purpleviolas #gardentherapy

A photo posted by Christy Sheeler (@christysheeler.artist) on May 4, 2016 at 3:47pm PDT

As I plant the seeds for each section, I feel a great satisfaction in the organized way it all comes together.  Where will the peas grow this year?  Should I plant a few more squares of peas?  How much lettuce will be enough for our family?  Which type of carrot seed?  Why not all three?  I guess I have plenty of peas saved for planting this year.  I ought to save some beans this year as it seems I didn't save many last year.  Just 3 or 4 bean pods have seed for several squares of planting the following year!

It's been a long day and I'm ready to be done early.  I had hoped to be ready to share about art travel bags and supplies.  My order of Giclee prints arrived yesterday and I would like to share more about that as well!  The days don't seem to have enough hours!!!  I have so much on my to-do list and the progress seems like a snail's pace.  Soon, everyone will be home and this place will be buzzing with catching up from our busy day.  Each week, I feel torn between skipping a week's blog post and pressing on to get it done.  It's not easy to prepare these posts and most often, the blog post takes a full day to prepare.  The number of photos I share adds time to the process.  I just love sharing photos and so that's how it will be!  See, here's another I can't help but share while I'm here!!!

Two raised beds planted today! I can't believe it's all ready to grow. #artistonpause #plantingthegarden #squarefootgardening #raisedbedsrule

A photo posted by Christy Sheeler (@christysheeler.artist) on May 4, 2016 at 3:03pm PDT

Thank you for stopping by to catch up with me!  Today's high got above 80 and just like that, Montana is sunny and feeling like summer.  Check back here again...I've got so much to share with you another day.

What are you doing as your usual spring routines?  Are you planting a garden?  Are you tempted to try this type of gardening?  Can you relate with the therapy of having fingers in the dirt?

-Christy
she must make art.


p.s.  As I've done the final editing, which takes about 15 minutes, the house has become FILLED with teen chatter at a fervent pace.  Two teens head out the back door, walking to get milkshakes.  My husband comments that it is starting to rain... teens will be damp and the seeds will be growing!

p.s. I know the Instagram photos are not center justified and it bugs me a lot!  I don't have the guts to go into html and try to change it from left justified.  Someday, I'll get that figured out...