Garden Fresh Basil Pesto

That garden we planted last Spring? Well, the harvest has been a struggle, to say the least. With the heat, and the rain, then the heat, and then the rain again--the unpredictable weather has taken a toll on all chances of getting peppers and cucumbers--yet basil? Basil thrives.  It grows so fast and full that I cannot keep up, as you may have seen here. When we were in California last month, I was talking to Matt's aunt who loves gardening, and she suggested making pesto with all that basil. One, you can freeze it and save it for pizza making, garlic bread spreading, and pasta sauce. Two, who doesn't love garden fresh basil? This isn't ever going to be a cooking blog, but because I've invested in sharing my green thumb aspirations with you and the very start of this garden of ours, I only see it fitting to share about the bounty my garden yields. So, besides the two juicy tomatoes and peanut sized red pepper? Pesto. It yields pesto (woohoo!).

Over at Thoughts By Natalie

Happy Saturday, lovelies! When my friend Natalie asked if I'd be willing to guest post on her blog, Thoughts by Natalie, while she is in Massachusetts for summer vacation, I knew exactly what I could share! Natalie writes a lot about wellness, healthy eating, and vegan dishes, so when she asked more specifically if I had any DIY projects to share, I thought that our raised garden bed DIY would be fitting--especially since organic and straight from the garden is the healthy and fresh way to go.

Here is an excerpt from the post...

"Maybe you've hesitated to plant a garden because you live in the city with more concrete than soil to contend with, or you feel like your thumb is no hue of green in the slightest, or you think about planting when the season has passed, or you have no idea where to even begin...And perhaps with just a bit of direction, or just a bit of encouragement, you can be on your way to your own little farm, starting with a few veggies and herbs. A garden to call your own. The very fist step in your garden ventures, is to create a home for your plants to be nourished and to grow..."

Read the rest of the post HERE. 

How Does My Garden Grow?

Since venturing into gardening in the city, and writing my first gardening post, green has sprouted and veggies are appearing in that little garden of ours. If only I had a growth chart for the tomato and pepper varieties. Jack and the Bean Stock brings on a whole new meaning--they are growing like crazy! It has been a decently hot and dry week, which brings out a whole new sense of care and tenderness towards this little garden of mine. First thing when I wake up, I go outside and water. It has become a ritual, and even Shelby loves to come out front and lay in the shade by the garden, watching for squirrels, before the sun steals the cool air away. 

Yellow Chair and Old Ammunition Box

Is this chair, ammunition box, flower vignette just wonderful? We were wandering through Breckenridge two weekends ago and I came upon this in front of a very darling vintage shop that upcycles so many amazing finds, straight from farm country. This little set up is a mix between what I love and what fits Matt's style too. Me: bright yellow and vintage. Matt: old ammo box. I need to go back. I have decided that I need to set aside an entire weekend for antique shopping through all the little Colorado mountain towns. I've already marked a few I've stumbled upon in Idaho Springs and along the way to Boulder. I'm thinking it will be perfect on a scorching hot day in Denver--to get away and up into the cooler mountain air while looking for old treasures. Who's with me?

Gardening in the City

I have never had a vegetable garden. I waiver in my ability to care for plants. I tend to over water. And I am still learning how to navigate through soil (and what exactly are annuals?) But deep down in me there is this voice that wants to be a self-proclaimed gardner. I want to learn how to grow juicy tomatoes, know plant pairings at the drop of a dime, and name the varieties at City Floral (only THE BEST nursery in Denver). I am supposed to garden. I know it. Its in my bones. My grandparents were farmers, my grandma a plant whisperer (seriously, she was amazing), and Matt's family are all from farming roots. I'm having high hopes that genes will kick in.

And so, how is this amateur gardner fairing the sea? I'm reading a lot, asking too much, and being taught even more by those whose green thumbs are like emeralds. I cannot wait to share the progress of our garden, our built from scratch raised bed, and what I'm soaking in from my new read Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer. I may not have chickens quite yet (someday!), yet still, I dream of the time my entire refrigerator's veggie and fruit drawers are filled only with produce that started as seeds, planted in the soil by my very two hands. What are your thoughts on urban farming? Any city dwellers milking goats, harvesting crop, and raising chickens out there?

Terrariums, Succulents, & Soil, oh my!

Photo taken at the Valverde Bazaar in Denver. (Note to Self: Make a vertical planter.)

Ever since our trip to Buenos Aires, and stumbling upon the table overflowing with succulents at the open air market (see: here), I cannot help but feel enchanted by these little plants. Add terrariums into the mix, and I am just a goner! Just in case you too can't get enough of succulents and terrariums, both outdoors and in, here are some favorites I've bookmarked from around the interwebs:

Bloom

Potted plants and gardens sprouting up around the city, in between snowfalls, are a constant reminder to bloom where I am planted. The weekend is going to be sunny and bright, and hopefully we have seen the last of snow! I have a few gardening projects I want to tackle, along with repurposing the two tiered dresser we got at Goodwill last year--its time to get started on a long list of projects that have been building up all winter. In the spirit of planting and blooming, here are a few favorites in the soil and petal department:

Terrarium Tutorial for your cacti and succulent endevours.

Darling Magazine's on how to make a Spring bouquet.

Loving this turning triangles terrarium and this house terrarium at Urban Outfitters.

A springtime (photographic) tutorial: Floral Collage

Pretty lace flower pots .

Really wanting to make a version of these geometric concrete planters on lgn.

And these May baskets (darling, right?) on Going Home to Roost.

image made by be