My eldest was born in April 6 years ago... yeah, that impacted my gardening time! I brought her out in her newborn carseat on the nice, warm days of June, always with an ear-covering hat. She usually slept. You'll do fine in the garden with a newborn -- besides, controlled sunlight exposure is good for getting rid of jaundice! It's those 6-month-olds and toddlers you gotta watch, because they want to help!

Congratulations on the imminent arrival. You will have to be a good "cybermom" now and post pictures on a website or a livejournal so we can all adore. Oh, and she'll need a good alias, too. Oh, and you'll have to get a scanner, if you don't have a digital camera. Oh, and don't forget the guestbook for us to sign, so you know we were there to adore. So much more to being a mom these days, isn't there?

Thanks, Loamy. And I'll list the varieties I have, of which I can spare a few seeds, in return. Just post online (in Seed Exchange) what you think you might like to try, and I'll send that with my SASE.

Kewl, nice to talk to another "local" gardener.

cocoabee:
How wonderful! My first was born in May. I remember putting my tomatos, peppers, and eggplants the day before I was due. The following day I went on a motorcycle ride with my hubby!

My favorite time of day was after dinner I'd take her out for a stroll around the garden in the fresh evening air. Oh I'm so happy for you! Congrats!

Best of luck! Amazingly, even with three (3.5, 2 and 6 months), I somehow managed to double-dig two new beds for some perennials, and haul about 1/2 a ton of woodchips around to avoid having to double-dig any more beds. So I guess you just never know. Sometimes that urge to grow beautiful things gets even stronger once you've grown a special little one of your own!

It's a great way to work off that baby weight, get some sun and fresh air. (Of course, leave the strenous stuff like digging until after your doctor/midwife clears you...) With some work, I've gotten all three "pumpkins" to overlap their afternoon naps by at least an hour, often enough that I can put a good 900 Mhz monitor in a central location and bring the receiver out with me and get a little work done.

Thanks a bunch, folks. I'm already learning how to juggle more stuff, after reading how "Determined" one can be with 3 fruits!

Double-digging, while fun, will have to make way for lasagna this year - easier on the ol' body.

I'll learn how to post photos as we get them.

-nita

Thank you, Charlene! This will be the biggest "experiment" of our lives, since we thought we'd never be able to have kids, and now we are. It's a bit of a miracle, actually. My DH is in heaven, esp since it's a girl.

We're doing household projects now that have been put off for months and years, since we need to be more safety-conscious. The patio in back has some flagstones that pop up 1/2" above level and some are below, which is easy to trip on. We'll be getting a shade arbor over the patio too, since it's too hot for wee folk in the summer.

We're having fun getting ready and not worried too much about all the variables that play into experiments. Any prayers offered would be greatly appreciated.

-nita

I'm trying bok choy and fennel this year. Just got the fennel seeds in the ground yesterday; you are supposed to sow it "early Spring". I planted the bok choy in the house a couple of weeks ago and they are coming along nicely.

Every year I plant more new than repeats. This year I have 24 varieties of peppers and only 10 are repeats! way too numerous to list here, but if I find anything worth repeating I'll share it. One I am hoping to get enough from to repeat it is the Thai pea eggplant, since it is one of those things I can't find anywhere. Another hopeful is the Red Zebra tomato - My favorite tomato of all time for flavor is the green zebra, so I hope this is a red version. Spealing of tomatoes, I am trying that 'upside-down tomato' growing method with a few.

Every year I try new greens that say they grow right through summer w/o bolting, but to no avail. We'll see... No new herbs this year-can't find any I need that I don't already grow!

Maybe you upside-down growers out there can start a new post on your methods and results?

It's so interesting/unusual a topic.

-nita

I agree.

I grew bok choy last year (aka Chinese mustard), and it got chewed until it was all lace and seed stems. I wasn't too diligent about watering it, so I guess that makes a big difference. It also doesn't like to be planted in a too-windy spot, as it will dry out faster.

Good luck, and let me know how good it tastes!

Not trying too many new things this year, not enough space dug up yet and the dog has confiscated a good 8 feet of one bed that I've been using. GRRrrrrr!!!!
I might be trying some new animal deterent tactics!

seriously I'm trying Bells of Ireland. I decided to try starting some in the house since the packet says they could take something like 20 days to even germinate. I'm going to try growing my snow peas up a trellis rather than letting them flop all over the place. I ordered a new variety(to me) of cucumber and can't for the life of me remember what it was.

Cocoabee, Best Wishes on the impending arrival! My youngest was born the end of march. had to get the early stuff planted before he was born that year. Took advantage of that "nesting" urge and dug my raised beds.

Wow pepperhead! Now we know where you got your name (24 varieties...oh my).

Most of my veggie plantings are fun for me to grow but are really ways to get my kids to eat good food. They'll eat something out of the garden that otherwise they wouldn't eat. (Mine are 8 and 5yrs...seems like just yesterday I was bringing home a May baby Nita! Best of luck...most importantly slow down and be sure to enjoy every moment.)

This year I'm trying watermelon for the first time though I don't expect much in my climate. But my son is such a watermelon-head that it would be so wonderful to grow our own.

Hey gardenz, if your agastache works I would love some seeds for next year. My agastache plants are among my best every year and that is one I don't have.

Celery germinates well for me in a poor sandy soil and very little watering till it fills out. I use it as an ornimental all over my gardens. It grows very well in 3 gallon pots. Down here it is a great winter crop as it can tolerate temperatures in the low 20's.

Peace

Just being nosey. Did the system cost a mint & where do I find it?