We're a few weeks into our backyard experiment, and without looking closely all seems to be going exceptionally well. The Mesclun Greens and the Arugula are sprouting nicely, the squash plants are growing wide and stately, and the corn has sprouted hand high seedlings that look delicate and pale but promise a luscious bounty in three months time. From a distance, all is verdant, growing and peaceful.
But. Then I saw the aphids.
A few days ago we tore up the backyard, stripped the earth of the weedy grass and lay down fertilizer soil in which to plant a number of vegetables. Peppers, arugula, corn, chard and more, we planted them in rows or set the young seedlings into the soil, watered them and then began to wait. And, coming in this morning, we're thrilled to see how much life had sprouted in the dark earth. From thousands of delicate, tendril like shoots of arugula to slender spikes of baby green corn, our veggies had been to grow and reach for the sun. I took the opportunity to snap off a series of shots, and we'll keep you posted here as to how our garden continues to grow, and what difficulties and challenges we run into. So far, however (I don't want to jinx us), so good!