Great Expectations!

We've had a few days with temperatures in the 70's and plenty of sunshine.  They've made me itchy to get outside and start working in the garden but, living in Oklahoma, I've learned the hard way that you do not put out any plants that can't tolerate a frost until after Easter.

This year, I decided to buy organic seeds and start my own flowers and vegetable plants.  I've been saving the empty K-cups from the Keurig coffee maker to use instead of buying peat pots.  They fit perfectly into some plastic shoe boxes I had stashed in the garage.  Using the shoe boxes will make it simple to bring them inside at night and to keep them covered so the soil won't dry out before the seeds can sprout.

Today it was just too pretty not to do something yard related!  So, I put my seeds into the little cups to get them started.  Since it's only four more weeks until Easter, I think I've timed it just about right.

 

Here's a portion of my future garden!


 I'm starting yellow squash, zucchini, cucumbers, Genovese basil and Moonflowers. 

Moonflowers are my absolute favorite vine to have growing on the west side of the patio to provide evening shade.  The blooms are about 8" across and have a wonderful smell.  They attract Luna moths!  The first time I saw one of those moths, it was out of the corner of my eye and I thought it was a bat!  They're huge!
 
The land surrounding our house isn't suitable for "in the ground" gardening so Fred built some raised beds for vegetables as well as a couple of  huge planters in the back yard.  This year we'll put out just a few tomato plants and hot peppers in addition to the plants I'm starting from seed.  Last year, he was recuperating from the fall he took off the ladder and we had no garden at all.  How I missed having some home grown tomatoes to enjoy!  I'm really hoping that we have some rain this year in Oklahoma and my little garden does well!