thoughts and perspective of a newbie gardener

This...

is my garden.

The fence and gate are still the prettiest part to look at.

It's been chilly, and it's been overcast.  The ground has stayed moist enough that I hardly have to water it, which is a change from trying to grow things in California (everything grows for the sun if you remember to water it)!

Another thing to get use to is seeing moss grow in a vegetable garden.

I planted my heart out a couple months ago, and am actually surprised that most the seeds didn't rot in the ground before germination.  I think I determined that sunlight is hitting our little plot for 7 hours at best, even though daylight starts at 4 AM and doesn't end until after 10 PM.

Now, Auntie Hannah's garden... is another story.
First of all, she is a pro gardener - I don't care if she's never gardened in North Idaho before this year.
I comfort myself that The Uncle Char/Auntie Hannah family live higher up on the hill (waaaarmer) and their plot sees more like 11 hours of the suns rays (again, waaaarmer).
I don't factor in the part where she spends more time spreading goat manure, weeding, planting, cold-framing, and probably singing to, her seedlings.

I don't sing to mine.  I'm pretty sure it wouldn't help anyways, as the goal is for my plants to not die.

Besides.  I am an introspective person and when I have space and silence all to myself, I think. 
Thinking is good.
I should garden more.

I don't talk to myself, and certainly not to my Onions, but if it would make them get big enough to support the 5-times-a-day:

"Can I TRY the (insert barely-sprouted vegetable name)... mom?"

No son.  You tried one yesterday.  They're not a whole lot bigger today, and there won't be any left by the time we can tell it's a Radish.

Anyways.  I recently had a big weed-fest and could REALLY see all the bare spots, so today I planted more seeds.

And more seeds again.

It felt really good!  Ironically I feel most like a farmer when sewing seeds.  Not when I am pulling weeds.

If I ever get to really harvest something (because I'm reluctant to call a couple snips of lettuce or plucks of cilantro a "harvest"), I might feel even more farmer-ish, but in case that day doesn't arrive this year I want to get my kicks where I can:-)

I want to show you something I discovered.

Perspective makes all the difference, don't you think?

 

Same garden, but oh!  It looks so LUSH, and those beans - they're so TALL!

 It's a true depiction of the real thing.  If you kneel down in the corner - just so your nose is almost touching the lettuce, you might think I have accomplished great things - things you wouldn't notice from a distance.

In fact, I have accomplished something amazing; I started a project that I am sticking with.

Things ARE growing (albeit rather slow).

The weeds ARE being pulled (in the usual abundance)

And I am starting over again when my previous work has been dismayed (Thanks LORD!).

Not only that, but I finally broke down and bought a "fun" pair of mud boots.  For as often as I go out, and abundant as mud seems to be I thought something prettier than the usual too-big, black irrigation boots might make me smile.

I found these when shopping with Molly in Roseville a few weeks ago 
and I was right:  
they are fun, 
they make me smile, 
AND I think of that trip to the Nursery with my sis and brother-in-law. (Thanks guys!)

Please do note that Clayton is trying to grow an artichoke.
In North Idaho.
I'm doubtful at best, but enjoy thinking of Clay every time I pass it :-)

The Hens and Chicks however, like it here.

      ..............................................I suppose the artichoke could surprise me.............?