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Thursday, May 16, 2013

A day in paradise




This is what I see out of my back windows: the ocean and dunes in the distance, the lake, my fenced-in garden plot with vegetable boxes built last summer and planted again this spring. The boxes are made of local Port Orford cedar, a wood that turns grey with age, rot resistant.

Cultivating these boxes is easy for any age, especially mine.

I stand up the entire time; I can stretch across to weed and to plant, and since I am short, I do very little reaching or bending down. I've made only two planting mistakes last season. The first one is the planting of artichoke plants, the tall plants in the top row. I'll have to wait until they die off from the main stock, and then transfer the little shoots on the ground.  Artichokes take a lot of room and need space to expand as they send shoots that will continue to produce for a few years more.

The second mistake was to plant strawberries in the bottom right box with cucumbers and nasturtium all of which sent shoots out, everywhere.  For this season, the strawberries will keep their own box.

Looking up from my boxes, the sea and the sea stacks across the lake, and dunes and clouds offer their own version of a day in this paradise. I never tire watching, listening to the waves and the birds, delighting in the small and big things that continue to surprise me every time I look this way.

This is whale migration season, and we are accustomed to see spouts from entire families on their way to Alaska stopping around here to feed and play.


I can do some fishing here on this stack of rocks, just dipping my pole in. People do catch marvelous eating fish here. I might just do that!

18 comments:

Brian Miller said...

smiles...would not mind to do a little fishing....your garden boxes are pretty amazing....so well organized...and hey you learn as you go alone and figure out what grows well together...its a learning process like most life...smiles

Unknown said...

You've described a really relaxing lifestyle! And I envy your gorgeous views!

NitWit1 said...

BEAUTIFUL VIEW & GARDEN, TOO!

Husband plants a few veggies. I tend pots of perennials, mainly succulents hens and chicks which require minimum care and only thinning, fertilizing but rarely complete transplantation.

Fishing is a plus, especially from dry land....

The Broad said...

So beautiful and peaceful... I love your plant boxes and the rather Italian feel of the garden!

Tabor said...

Great garden. We do raised beds as well, but not so high as yours. I see you have a chair out their to sit and watch the plants grow. Whales and fishing, what else could you possibly need.

MunirGhiasuddin said...

What lovely views and nice descriptions !

Velva said...

This is your view! This is stunning! You know I love to garden and seeing your garden boxes made me smile. Better yet, you can see whales migrating through your back window? Not many people can say that- beautiful.

Velva

Hilary said...

It's a lovely spot. Your garden will do well this year, I'm sure. It's always a learning process.

I would get such a kick out of seeing a family of whales. It does indeed sound like paradise.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Rosaria - sounds just lovely - looks glorious - seeing the whales and knowing they are there - wonderful.

The garden with its veggie and fruit boxes are amazing - so pleased for you ... those little plants have their own way with life .. I love artichokes fresh from the garden, and strawberries, cucumbers and nasturtiums - all good in various ways ..

Enjoy this summer .. cheers Hilary

the walking man said...

I assure you Rosaria you have a much nicer view of living from your porch than I.

Soumyendu said...

Catch fish. Watch whale migration. Plant vegetable boxes. Write a blog.

Wow, just wow!

troutbirder said...

Good luck with the fishing and how I wish I could see spouting whatles from my back yard...;)

Rob-bear said...

And you continue your one-woman adventure as the primary booster of Port Orford. Well done, again, Rosaria.

If you keep this up, I might just ask you to save me a lot with a nice house and a sea view.

Blessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
Life in the Urban Forest (poetry)

Suburbia said...

What an amazing place to live?

Linda Myers said...

Love your garden! We have raised beds also, in a smaller garden. Just yesterday I pulled out all the winter-grown beets. Today we'll put chicken manure in that bed for a new crop.

yaya said...

You have the Garden of Eden in your backyard! I would love to hear surf and birds too..just as you described it..a paradise..enjoy Rosaria!

Maggie May said...

The garden boxes are kind to the back, too.
Maggie x

Nuts in May

erin said...

bounty right from the land and sea - the way it should be:))) marvelous living, rosaria.

xo
erin