Thursday, April 29, 2010

My Stupid Dogs Trampled Everything

Yes, it's true. I worked hard growing seedlings indoors, and the time was right to put them in the garden. I did what any noob gardener would do - prepared the soil, had my seedlings ready, used books and internet info to think of all the best things I could do.

I spent several hours on a glorious Sunday transplanting lettuce, cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli. Evenly spaced, properly distributed.

Two days later I went out to check the plants. Immediately after I stepped outside, the rain broke from the skies. I had no jacket and got very wet. Didn't really matter I thought, I'm a gardener and I have to check my plants.As I stepped onto my well-placed, decorative stepping stones, the rain switched to hail. No worries, it would only take a minute to look at my veggies.

Turns out the dog, or dogs, but I think it was one more than the other.... had trampled all through everything. I spent a solid 20 minutes trying to reposition and replant my broken, vulnerable vegetable seedlings. I knew inside that I was only delaying the inevitable. The plants are going to die. Weeks and months of easy work down the drain.

I still have a few seedlings left, and some seeds. Tomatoes inside seem okay. All is not lost. Disheartened? Yes. Determined? Yes.

There will be vegetables on my plate this season.