dutch doors

from top left - via THAT KIND of WOMAN - RAGLAND HILL - design by JONES PIERCE architects - COASTAL LIVING - source unknown - design by Peter Dunham via House Beautiful - design by Miles Redd via Architectural Digest - home of Grace Happens via Elements of Style

I am going to go ahead and say its a necessity to have a good front door. It sets the tone for the whole house and is a powerful symbol for the home. As Jeremiah Eck (remember him from The Distinctive Home series?) states "A good entry isn't about show. It should have a graceful quality, be inviting, and be well proportioned to human scale" (The Distinctive Home). Personally, doors are sort of like stairs and fireplaces for me - I just love them. They are equal parts functional and aesthetic which is the perfect combo for my tastes. I am especially fond of dutch doors. It takes the right house to pull one off but when done correctly they are real stunners. 

ready to grow

As planned, we ripped out our lettuce, spinach and strawberry plants last weekend. We kept three kale plants as they are potentially good through the summer and will definitely be ready for harvesting in the fall. We gave three heads of lettuces to friends and kept the rest for ourselves. We have been enjoying salads all week and have been trying to savor every last piece of lettuce before our season of plenty comes to an end. 

After everything was pulled out, I turned the soil and dug holes for our summer "crop". We purchased organic, non-GMO plants at the farmers market from one of my favorite growers so I have high hopes for a plentiful harvest. 

In the big container, we planted three tomato plants all of the heirloom variety and two pepper plants - one jalapeno and one banana pepper. In our one 12" diameter pot, we planted two basil plants. I am pretty sure this will create too much crowding so I plan on transplanting each to its own pot this weekend. 

Have a good weekend everyone!

the start of summer gardening

We have very limited space in our garden (2'x5') so in order to make room for summer plantings we have to rip out our spring harvest. I have been struggling to know when I should do this as I hate to waste any of our beautiful lettuces but yesterday our spinach gave me the sign its time to go - its bolting. Bolting is when the plant is in the last stages of its life and it goes to seed - essentially its trying to reproduce before it dies. With spinach the leaves start to grow rapidly and become pointed at the ends. The plant also produces a flowering stem which will cause all energy and resources to be diverted from the root system resulting in poor harvesting and eventual death. 

Our lettuces are also starting to show signs of bolting although its not as easy to tell with them. One source stated that lettuces will produce a milky sap when on their way out. I have started to taste some bitterness but nothing extreme. Either way I will probably be digging them out this weekend and giving gifts of lettuce heads to my neighbors. 

The caterpillars have finally slowed down on eating the kale and three out of the four plants are doing well. The fourth is still growing but its color isn't as vibrant and its a bit soft to the touch. My tentative plan is to keep the three thriving kale plants but to not start eating them again till fall when the heat has broken. 

I am torn on what to do with my three strawberry plants. I have had them for two seasons so I am sort of attached but they just don't produce very well (maybe 10 strawberries per plant). I am starting to think the soil content might not be right or maybe its the amount of sunlight they are getting. I will probably end up composting them as well although it will be rather reluctantly. 

I haven't totally figured out what I will replace everything with but I know I want tomatoes and basil. Beyond that I have been thinking about cucumbers and maybe some other herbs. My plan is to get some advice at the farmer's market and go from there. More updates with summer planting to come! Have a good weekend!