New Beginnings

The drive cross-country has come and gone, and the move went off without much of a hitch. We’re currently finalizing unpacking and decorating, and it’s so nice here! The weather in SoCal is dry and warm, with cool evenings (that is, perfect!).

One small problem though—I arrived sans garden. “But didn’t she plan to bring her plants with her to Cali?”, you ask. I sure did, and they seemed to do fine throughout the trip—most were inside my car, which was being towed by the truck we drove. I put up the sunshade to keep the plants from roasting, and the temperature didn’t get too high in the car, just nice and warm. There was some wiltage, but nothing I didn’t think I could handle once we arrived.

I hadn’t planned on my plants being attacked. They’re just plants, right? Why would someone not like them? Turns out, the state of California hates plants from Virginia. Hates them so much, it turns out, that vehicles entering the state are searched for agriculture from certain states, and any found foliage is confiscated and burned.

And so explains why I arrived in the Inland Empire with no plants and a dejected spirit. My new balcony cried out for life, which led to the silver lining.

I got to get all new plants!

I purchased an aloe, a mint (unnamed, only one they had), and two flowering plants for the hubby. I also picked up some new seeds—hey, might as well get what I want while I’m at it, right?

Over three days, I planted the following: mixed leaf lettuce, easter egg radishes, sugar snap peas, bunching onions, brandywine tomatoes, miscellaneous cherry tomatoes, roma tomatoes, bell peppers, banana peppers, jalapenos, rosemary, thyme, basil, chives, parsley, lavender, cucumbers, and sage.

And my radishes have already sprouted!

My mother-in-law gave me some standing plant holders, so I'm going to use the taller one to train my peas up (the bottom pot). The other holder is going to shade some lettuce in this warm weather.

I plan to plant potatoes soon—already got organic red potatoes from the grocery store, just going to use them until one or two sprouts. I’m also planning to grow garlic, but it’s much too early to plant that yet.

Here's to new beginnings!