Garden June 4, 2008

Grr. I am slightly annoyed because I just wrote a post and for some reason it did not publish and it did not save, and now I have a meeting. I will try to get it done before people arrive but it was supposed to start a minute ago.

As I was saying, I am attempting a small garden this summer. Unfortunately the high desert is not the most ideal place to garden. In fact the growing season is only 90 days. Our farmers’ market doesn’t even start until July 14th! I am somewhat pessimistic but thought I would give it a try anyways. So far I have planted spinach, lettuce, marigolds, summer squash, and zucchini. The lettuce is the only thing that has dared to come up thus far. I am nervous that it will soon be destroyed by a frost, or deer, or rabbits, but I am keeping my fingers crossed. On a side note, as development spreads into space that was once inhabited by wildlife it becomes more and more common to see wildlife in neighborhoods. One example is mule deer in Alamosa. They roam around in people’s yards, on the college campus, just hanging out and eating. I don’t blaim them at all but I do wish they would leave my garden alone. Here is a picture I took of a couple of them in my neighbors front yard. There are two more next to them.

To avoid the harsh elements of the desert I have decided to grow my tomato plant indoors. As you can see in the before and after photos the one tomato is growing slowly but surely. I am hopeful that more will come about soon.

Before

Now

If anyone has advice about gardening in the desert I am more than open to it!