welcome to the jungle

so we don't really have a dining table

since its covered in plants 

take a look at the progress!

the squashes are coming up and up and sideways 

surprise tulips in the front yard

unfortunately they had to go

since the front yard needed some help 

the squash had some outside time 

here is the list of plants that we planted and hope will survive:

01. acorn squash

02. butternut squash

03. giant pumpkin (thank you leana for your advice- i needed it- giant pumpkins are a lot to care for) 

04. french pumpkin (so beautiful-also known as Cinderella's carriage)

05. cantaloupe

06. spaghetti squash

07. zucchini squash (heard these get a little out of hand...yikes)

08. cucumber

09. eggplant

10. jubilee tomato

11. rainbow heirloom tomato

12. yellow pear tomato (see this cutie here)

13. pepper, kaleidoscope mix

14. scallop patty squash

15. jack be little pumpkins (too cute to pass up)

16. kohlrabi

17. ruby queen beet (homage to mr. dwight schrute) 

18. tomatillo (can you taste the salsa already?)

19. french breakfast radish (beautiful old-world radishes)

20. green beans

21.purple top while globe turnips (fried turnip cake anyone? its a little piece of heaven)

22. nutri-red carrots (ry went crazy when he saw the seeds- he thinks red carrots are the coolest) 

23. leeks (via my friend A who tells me they are wonderful in quiches) 

24. white icicle radish (another fun veggie)

25. kale

herbs:

26. thyme 

27. cilantro

28. basil

29. chives

30. dill (my favorite herb)

31. parsley (2 types, curly and flat)

32. green onions (use these all the time in my Asian cooking)

33. tarragon (completes a chicken salad)

34. rosemary 

for fun & loveliness:

35. giant gray striped sunflowers

36. strawberries

37. blue potatoes (more interesting than the plain russet)

38. lady alexandra duff peonies (what lovely equals) 

39. sorbet peonies

40. sarah bernhardt peonies (almost too pretty to cut-pics and more info on peonies here)

41. lily of the valley (for the shady areas in the lawn- one of my all time favorite flowers)

42. ranuculus (one of the best cut flowers ever) 

whew! that list is kind of overwhelming, wish us luck! our water bill is going to be high this summer. heard that squashes can't be over-watered haha. 

what are you growing this year? have any fun stories to tell about gardening? i would love to hear 'em since i am a novice. the only experience i have is in floral arrangement which does not exactly help when it comes to making the garden grow, im impatient! can't wait to cut those peonies. maybe ill have a peony party like good ol' martha. but we will see if they even come up :)