I'm not going to lie. It's a jungle in our backyard! While it is so funny to think that we had the notion that we could come close to keeping all of these weeds at bay, the beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Because, tucked in amongst all those (sometimes quite pretty!) weeds are hidden vegetables and fruits that the deer can't find (and sometimes, to be honest, we have a hard time distinguishing our lettuce patch from the weeds, too!)

Little boys, as it turns out, have no trouble finding such treasures. Like these four blueberry bushes so lovingly planted a few months back with the help of his Papa.

"I need a bucket! I need a bucket!" I hear as a blonde-headed torpedo flies past me, heading in the direction of our Secret Garden. He sat there for an hour, picking. And eating. And talking about Blueberries for Sal. I am reminded that we did not buy this land to tame it. We bought it to take care of it. To protect it and the little boys, birds, and animals who live here from herbicides and pesticides. We bought it - a human-life lease on a place that was here long before we were, and will be here long after we pass on - to live here. To weed when we can, to grow some things that will nourish our family.

A carefully cultivated landscape and garden are, perhaps, down our path in the future. But for now, I am choosing to weed less and lie down on a clover patch, blonde headed boy in the crook of my outstretched arm, searching for animals in the clouds.

I love the mystery of a seed that sprouts and grows into something beautiful. I want my boys to experience that in the garden. 

Sometimes, though? Sometimes my inner two year-old just wants some flowers now! And finally, after so many years of living in shade pockets, we can have container flowers. So we did it! I used a gift certificate that I could have used for something boring like a hose or a ladder. There's always something to get for an old-ish house. 

Instead, I bought potted flowers. My favorites, the icelandic poppies and lantana, are paired with columbines, hyacinths, creeping jenny, silver falls, and some gebera daisies, salvia, purple queen, and some daffodils and tulips. All of these are perennials, at least in my growing region.

Here's a before view of my side entryway, which is where we go in and out of the house. It gets plentiful afternoon sun, and we spend a lot of time on this patio because it's home to the boys' digging spot - a planter that is devoid of all but a few shrubs and lots of dirt. We don't have a sandbox yet, but the dirt is, if I dare say, better than sand. They both have their place, but having a dirt pile is great. For the boys, not for the floors in my house!

The little guys helped me plant, and, even though they were loving this "work," of course, I had to do what any mother of little ones has to do to get anything done - I finished the job once they were sleeping, by the light of the moon porch flood light.

I recently took a container gardening class at Craftsy - are you familiar with Craftsy? They have all sorts of online classes for sewing, knitting, gardening, paper crafts, and more. You should check out their platform when you get a chance. I've taken several of their sewing courses, too, and have really learned a lot (plus, I can take them at my own pace - while the boys are sleeping!) 

Here's the view from the side door in the above pictures looking out toward the driveway. Everything's abloom! This has been a very exciting spring for us, as it is our first in this house, and we're enjoying learning about all of the bulbs the previous owners planted, as well as learning the names of all of the flowering shrubs and vines. 

Now I just need to set up my deer sprinkler and all should be good. Cross your fingers that it works - it's what I'm depending on to protect our garden this year, too, as we can't afford a fence!