Despite many reasons for the garden to be a mess this year, it isn't. Naturally, we had the incentive of Yessi and Brad's wedding in the garden on the 20th of April, but…
I also have been in the hospital five times, with three surgeries, in the past year. That's made gardening on my part limited, but then there's Ed, Yessi and Brad, plus a friend or two, helping out from time-to-time. Bless them. I had surgery on the 15th of March and then on April 25th I had another hospital stay and another surgery, with the wedding sandwiched in between. Low energy, pain and discomfort made gardening challenging, but check out our beautiful spring garden despite the hurdles.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4YlHzv0g2By7SWLUNXNUmeUrnsgYmdiMxUjCY9UmnZN_mO7ONED4o3AcN6CqD_nIlm8he617rpWnWhOyDH22HBmrtXGFnPtQDjMDm6Myx8IOvbGz44YnoT_jZRNomZsrLjC4cG-79EU/s280/IMG_1963.JPG) |
The greenhouse is full of greens and peas. |
The garden has an abundance of good things to eat, including broccoli, spinach, onions, beets, strawberries, asparagus raspberries, blueberries, rhubarb, and more. Also, the plums, apples and pears bloomed profusely so we're expecting lots of fruit. And then there are the grapes. Last year I made raisins and I'm hoping to do the same this year.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgheKaMSJ_2X9zv8ujH4SyZMg7q9d-pMogIb4261Pqr6MijT0RHu3x84E6sA1CJwceV7bCRc2wCDgVeRGy8-IPdY8OrS8RiknK9H8ZKYYnE-UAdQwT6lYGe6TiM1Lo9Dd4RWYjQCAteXDk/s280/IMG_1969.JPG) |
View of our home from the second floor of our barn, looking east |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhps3qYtKD6cnKw7pXAV4_OBEfeq-_VQBQ1WvJaypPPDRUNi_fuWhoTyo8sMCPgbB3YkP_CmNFsOmXQ7n7hA3o-P5kmI_ohFfNg8vrLkqntMjH4Fu-3Iblp6OIlkN6qS-8UurRxW_pYXt4/s280/IMG_1971.jpg) |
Looking east through a small grove of bamboo |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3-A3B9fyabGWeCDFaIGx8y8iCHlRMfdXybblWIFUYTyNsagMEV0vH9Am1zmxe7xIhmGCvmTnOG8UATzDu3AQo-LTRQt6ZnGyemlC-3q1tUYspSQXbKwIZLdq8P-igA6rqbVhsPGoC0c/s280/IMG_1973.JPG) |
This maple is still small and in the territory of the Exbury azaleas, but I'm loving the red and yellow combination. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6d_3zrALtLQN1hoC3ghi3fpgDdEDsbHjPXVWfeCwxKXpQR4GTvdKG8mJhgmNiUIjesRTPyAxkqTgu5cQ19R9KNQJsf9enVtj5b4yvvwsPD7ozPmuptocUIAq1pbDI2PIEr42bM1XieY/s280/IMG_1976.JPG) |
More color, especially my favorite garden color -- Green! |
We do indeed live in a family-created paradise, with a garden designed by Fran, a home designed and built by Brad, and with Ed participating every step of the way, including doing the wiring.