When I was growing up my mom and dad always planted a garden. Every summer we had loads and loads of peas, tomatoes, cabbage, corn, potatoes, watermelon…all of the best veggies that come from Southern gardens. What that meant for me, the only child at home, was being dragged out of bed very early on summer mornings to help plant, or weed or water the garden before the sun got too high in the sky and too hot to be out in the garden. But early mornings didn’t scare away the gnats. Good lord, the gnats. As a young girl, I really didn’t appreciate the garden, or even it’s delicious bounty. I took it for granted. I didn’t pay attention. I didn’t learn. And now, with both my mother and father gone, I wish I had.

My husband and I made an attempt at a garden one year. It was really at the prompting of my mother who came to visit with us in the mountains of NC each summer. Our little garden plot yielded some tomatoes, cucumbers and squash I remember. I know we only managed to get some veggies that summer due to my mother tending the garden, weeding what she could and picking the growth before it rotted on the ground.

So fast forward to this week, when my young married daughter has taken an interest in gardening and has studied how to build a raised garden. I eagerly raised my hand and said I want one too, so she gathered all of the supplies and delivered them to our house. So here we go…..I’ll keep you posted! (All expert tips and suggestions are welcomed!) I will repay you with homemade salsa from my tomatoes, basil and jalapeno I intend to grow!

Summer Update: We have a garden! Look at those tomatoes and squash plants grow!

Raised garden update…the tomatoes for the win! The tomato plants have basically taken over the garden and are producing lots and lots of big beautiful tomatoes. The squash plants had tons of blooms but never really produced more than a couple of squash.  We have what appears to be a pumpkin growing…not sure where he came from but I am anxiously watching him grow! It’s mid September and the tomatoes are continuing to product…check these out!

Looking for a quick and easy recipe to use your summer tomatoes? Check out this easy Pico de Gallo recipe!