We wanted to wait for our new chicken coop to arrive and be put in it’s final location before we started planting and building our new raised beds. So it wasn’t until late May/ early June that things really started to get off the ground, rather in the ground. Our original plan for the garden ended up being scaled back from six raised beds to just four and the variety of plants where narrowed to the easiest to care for and the ones that could be sown outdoors. So far we have a bounty of chard, carrots, basil, radishes, and nasturtiums and are waiting for our tomatoes, corn, onions, leeks, and pumpkins to ripen. So far it’s been a very successful season despite being in aa drought and a late start.

This winter has been really hard for me. I didn't realize home much my happiness has become dependent on the amount of time I spend outside in the sun. Since December I've been dreaming of my spring garden, tweaking my landscape plan, ordering seeds, and adjusting plant placement.

My favorite new tradition since moving Upstate has been planting daffodil bulbs every October. These bulbs need the cold of winter to flourish in the spring. Come spring their little green leaves will start to poke out of the ground signaling "Spring is finally here!”