THE CONSTANT GARDENER: Innaugural Post

In the THE CONSTANT GARDNER, I aim to share weekly observations that adhere to Thomas Jefferson's words, "Though an old man, I am but a young gardener." 

In the Beginning. . . 
Three years ago, Megumu and I purchased a home in the cozy Wallingford neighborhood of Seattle.  The whole "mortgage" experience brought to our attention that we had a new asset in our Lives.

As our closing was in Winter, we took advantage of all the typical indoor activities of a Pacific Northwest Winter in an old house.  Scrabble games by the fire (Megumu almost always won!), rich stews and roasts in the kitchen, and lazy Sundays with coffee and the Times in the Eames lounger.

Spring came around, and I noticed something; we had a yard.  Lush, green and unkempt, our environs cried out to me like a horticultural siren.  I began to explore, not fully understanding the journey I was undertaking.  In May, Megumu dragged me to the Wallingford Community Edible Plant Sale.  Soothing latte in one hand and boxes of cherry roma tomato plants in the other, we clamored with our sisters and brothers of the Fleece Brigade to bring home just the right arrangement to begin the Seattle tradition of the Vegetable Garden. 

With our tomatoes inside anxiously awaiting the final frost of the season, I began to read a bit about gardening.  As it turns out, these little plants would need big space.  As it turns out, for about $35 of pine wood and soil, a junior varsity, scratch that, "waterboy" green thumb like me could produce a lovely 5x7 raised bed. 

Now, three years later, after over performing zucchini flowers, jaded San Marzanos, cute as a button Japanese eggplant, faithfully prolific kale and finicky herbs, there is no turning back.