My latest endeavor has been the planting of a vegetable garden. I guess that nuturing something and watching it grow just makes me smile. I decided to start on a small scale and went with some green beans, cucumbers, melons, peppers and zucchini. Happy to report, all is looking good!

The only harvest to date has been a few green beans which I have been breaking up for my salad and hope to soon have enough to fix for a meal. Tomatoes are getting bigger but still green and I think that I should have about 12 peppers ripening soon.

My educational moment came when I was concerned about my zucchini and how the flowers were blooming beautifully then drying up, falling off and leaving nothing behind. I visited the local nursery and asked about why this was happening and was informed that my plants were doing exactly what they should be. Apparently the male blossoms come first for the first few weeks and then the females come second (how backward, old-fashioned and archaic) blooming and bringing the fruit. Of course, I ran home spoke kindly to my boy buds and then anxiously awaited the arrival of the ladies, whom would reward me with offspring. Low and behold some of the gals have appeared and they are topping the beginnings of some nice looking zucchini. Let's hear if for the girls!!

Working in the garden has been a form of therapy, helping me take care of something and I do believe even after the compost, plants and fertilizer it still is gonna be a lot cheaper than $60.00 per hour spent getting therapy in a couselor's office. And the sunshine and fresh air can't hurt either!

Each time that I water, weed, add fertilizer or harvest, my thoughts are on just how beautiful God has made the process of life. And we reap the wonderful benefits whether it's with the harvest of well-cared for food or the fulfillment of loving children!

Wether caring for your vegetables or your family ~ HAPPY GARDENING!