Dogwood Festival Parade, Market, My Street and Wisteria

I had a weekend full of farmer's market, dogwood festival parades, and enjoying Downtown Charlottesville. We have had record highs here and my plants seem to like it. The spinach is beginning to look like spinach! I am struggling with knowing how much to water during this unusual amount of heat, but have heard not to over water. Any hints on that would be GREATLY appreciated. This weekend I also got a library card. What a great place for a broke 28 year old! I checked out two novels and am waiting for a book called "Vegetable Gardening in Virginia". You can also check out movies and CDs. Wow! My generation has totally missed this secret. And, it's quiet in there. The pics below are from the beautiful blooming flowers in my yard and on my street that I see every day. The rest are from the market and parade. Yes-those ladies in pink are Jazzercisers that performed a live class in the parade. Hilarious to see for a current aerobics instructor!!!

BRRRRRR.........

So, I thought it would be nice to sit outside blogging in my new garden. Except that it is 57 degrees and feels like 37 when the wind blows. I am in wool socks and a fleece. Still, it's all about the atmosphere. I feel like those silly girls that would wear turtle necks to The Grove in September just because it was "fall". Still, it was 92 out. Regardless of the cold snap, I have once again had a relaxing afternoon walking through my garden. Although there is not much activity to report, James the Cat and I still decided that it was worth a photo shoot. I can tell those little things are growing-I swear!

I had just honked my horn at someone on the way home from work (DC Erin still comes out every now and then).  Typical Mondays of RUSH, RUSH, RUSH! Then I pulled onto my street. I was knocked into the present by all of the colors. Maybe it was because it had just rained and everything looked magnified, but it was energizing. I saw pinks, purples, red, white, and of course, my favorite: every shade of green. I think in Mississippi the Dogwoods have come and gone, but here they are just putting on their show. This urged me to take a breath, throw on my raincoat and check on my plants. Maybe I was intoxicated by ride home, but I swear, the little plants looked bigger! And one of my lettuce plants actually looked like it had some leaves that would be soon enough to eat! I almost snapped that sucker off right then and threw some buttermilk ranch on it, but I held back. Just like me, I know it will grow into something bigger and better! Well, for me, maybe just better, not bigger. 

Lulu's Garden

When I was little my mom's best friend's husband called me Luler Guler. About ten years later, the grandkids shortened it to Lulu. Whew! How much more beautiful does that sound? I think I will name my first ever post "Lulu's Garden" because I feel much like I did as a child with this garden: so much to learn, but in the end, SO rewarding. Feel free to give me tips, send seeds, and follow my garden's progress. Unless, in a couple of weeks everything dies which obviously, so will this blog. Enjoy!