Keeping A Garden Journal

Welcome to my garden . . .

I have been making a garden journal for the last two years.  It’s nice to go back and see what the weather was like on a certain date, or when and where you planted something and how it did in that spot.  I am a trial and error gardener.  I work my soil and use a lot of natural fertilizers (steer and chicken manure are my favorites).  I have no idea what I’m doing, I just dig, hoe, water, weed, get my hands dirty and see what happens.

We have a very small yard and a couple of years ago I purchased 60 bags of manure. In my head it sounded like the right amount.  I took my order to the check stand and wrote my check, then pulled around to the loading area to be greeted with a forklift and a pallet full of manure.

I was overwhelmed but didn’t want to admit it.  So home I went with a truck full of poop.  I decided what the _____ and I worked it into all my flower beds, added it to my outdoor pots and when I was done I spread the rest all over the lawn.  Neighbors were telling me that I was going to burn up every living thing in my yard.  Well, I already had the stuff so I used it, every single bag.  I decided I would just give it lots of water and see what happens.

What happened was this gal had the greenest lawn and the prettiest flower beds on our block and for a few blocks beyond.  Trial and error…that’s the way I garden. 

Aren't these journals pretty  . . . 
I bought them at the Dollar Store.

Now that I keep a journal I at lease have more of an idea of what works in my area and what doesn’t.  I love getting up early in the morning (after the weather is warm) and sitting out back on the screened-in porch with my morning coffee and writing in my book.  Now that spring is getting closer I enjoy pulling my journals off the shelf and reading, 

while dreaming of warm weather.

"Happy Garden Planning"