The Green Penn: What We've Been Up To- Spring Gardening, Mother's Day, and Things to do in Middle Tennessee

Warning: This is a very long and picture-heavy post. I hope you enjoy. ;-)

I've been overwhelmed with joy since the weather finally changed from the cold, dreary, rainy days of a Tennessee winter to the warm, sunny, dry days of late spring. I don't know if I'm imagining things, but it seems as though every winter gets worse and worse around here. I'm one of those people who gets down and depressed during long periods of gray and cold weather, and I spend every January and February trying to convince my husband that we need to move south, like WAY south. So far, he's not taken me up on the offer, but I don't give up easily. Thankfully, though, spring arrived with gusto this year. It went from rainy and cool to down-right hot and sunny over the course of a week! (Not that I'm complaining.) As soon as the ground was warm, I was itching to start gardening.

We removed everything from last year's garden bed and tilled it up really well. Other than a slight mishap with the irrigation lines (Oopsie!), everything went smoothly. Charlotte had a blast helping me lay out new landscape fabric and re-spread the mulch. (A friend has recently introduced me to the ideas of permaculture, and I'm going to do some more research on it. Maybe I can figure out a way to not need to do so much work next year.)

We worked our tushies off, but we've got a nice little area going. So far, we've planted herbs and some greens in that bed, plus the beets and carrots that I planted today. I also have seeds started in containers that will be moving over there in a very short while. We ordered a bunch of heirloom seeds from Baker Creek this year, and will be growing some neat, unique varieties of vegetables. Aside from the more tame scarlet kale, lacinto kale, purple teepee beans, and golden sweet peas, we're growing five varieties of tomatoes, red okra, wonder berries, and kamo eggplant. It's going to be so fun to see how everything turns out this summer. I hope to have an incredibly colorful garden.

We also tilled a new spot in the back yard, and I've planted three varieties of heirloom and non-GMO corn, crookneck squash, butternut squash, and sweet peas. My husband LOVES corn, so I have to keep him happy.

I've planted plenty of lettuce and kale in my raised bed this year. When we pulled up the old garden, we discovered several tiny purple kale plants that had volunteered to regrow, and we moved them into the raised bed. I tell ya, this stuff will grow anywhere. Since that day, I've found more of those tiny plants in the old garden, even after it was tilled and recovered! And of course, I moved them to be with their friends. ;-)

Volunteer kale after its move and few weeks of steady watering.

I feel like gardening has become my escape. I'm at my happiest when I'm out there in the dirt, talking to my plants, and nursing them along. I may have missed my calling as a farmer.

The strawberries we planted last year have come back with amazing zeal, also. We've already picked and eaten several, and there are a bunch more waiting to ripen. Charlotte has been excited to check their progress every day. She tries to sneak and eat them, but I have to explain that they'll taste better if we wait. The whole "patience is a virtue" thing is lost on a two year old.

Yes, gardening has taken over our lives in recent weeks, but I absolutely love it. Being outside in the evenings brings me immense joy, especially when it's spent with my little one, showing her how to grow her own food and care for such delicate items. Starting things from seeds has been a wonderful lesson for her. She asks to water them every night when we get home, and she loves to pinch small pieces of lettuce or kale leaves and nibble them. She's appreciative of fresh food in a way that I didn't think possible at her age.

Eatin her fresh fruit at a friend's birthday party.

We have managed to fit in a few other activities aside from gardening, though. We've had birthday parties to attend, and we even visited the Renaissance Festival a couple of weeks ago. She didn't seemed interested in much besides the castle, where she thought she should live.

She is a princess, after all.

We've been to farmers markets and eaten at the newest plant-based, health-oriented restaurant in our area, too.

I had the raw pad Thai with a kale salad and raw cacao mousse for dessert. Charlotte shared my meal and had the raw apple crisp for dessert. Everything was delicious.

Thrive is amazing, if you're ever in the Franklin, TN area. Pam is a genius. She offers several raw items, along with gently cooked whole foods. The restaurant has been so successful, that they'll be expanding soon. I just love when a business offering healthy food is successful!

And what would spring be without getting outside for some relaxation? We've been walking or jogging as often as possible and doing yoga in the back yard whenever we can squeeze it in.

Charlotte is dying to do head stands and tries to do everything else she sees me demonstrate, even attempting meditation. It's pretty entertaining, to say the least.

As you can see, it's been an awesome spring, so far. Mother's Day was no exception.

My husband arranged for his mom, dad, sister, Charlotte, and myself to all tour Cheekwood Botanical Gardens. I'd been once before, but this time was so much fun. Watching Charlotte explore was the highlight of my day. She loved to smell the flowers and touch everything (that she was allowed to touch). They even had a train exhibit where several trains ran all over a massive wooden "town", some overhead, even. I bet we spent an hour looking at them. Train obsessed, this kid is.

Banana in-hand, always.

The Japanese Tea Garden is my favorite part, but I didn't take my phone in with me. It definitely brings a sensation of calm over me when I enter. I could spend all day there.

At one of the ponds, we met some snapping turtles and bull frogs. As you can imagine, these were all the rage for a toddler.

It was such a fun day spent with family. I can't wait to do it all again.

Last night, we met some friends at Arrington Vineyards for a raw food potluck, which was a really nice time. My brother and niece even tagged along. The kids had a blast chasing each other and digging in a mud puddle they found. The forecast had called for rain, so not many people showed up, but it turned out to be a fantastic night. The weather was perfect, and we had a prime spot on the hillside overlooking the vines. No complaints here.

I think we're off to a fantastic start to an amazing summer! I am excited to see what the next few months bring, and I'll be sure to update you all as things happen.

Until then, here are a few more pics from our recent fun...

Pics from our photo shoot with the incredible John Meyers Photography