This week, we are prepping the soil for planting. After weeks of up and down temperatures, it seems the weather has finally decided to take an uptick and summer is on its way. The first step was to spread around a mixture of humus (not to be confused with hummus) and manure while turning up the soil. Humus is a type of compost or topsoil enhancer used in gardening.

The second step was mixing in some coffee grounds. In the gardening months, Starbucks packages used coffee ground for free to use as “Grounds for Your Garden.” The coffee grounds made the garden smell like a freshly brewed cup of coffee, an effect that was magnified when we watered the garden. It certainly overpowered any scent from the humus and manure.

Above: After spreading humus and manure.

Above: Add in some coffee grounds.

Above: Watering the garden.

Here is a photo progression of the rhubarb plants, from when they first sprouted in early spring through last weekend, where the stalks are starting to look big enough to harvest:

Above: Rhubard sprouts start to arrive in the spring.

Above: The first plant, leaves unfolding and beginning to grow.

Above: Second plant, getting bigger.

Above: The third plant, he’s just a little guy.

Above: The plants continue to grow.

Above: Big plants, spreading out and growing fast!

Above: Plenty of stalks growing tall.

Above: Stalks are getting red, hopefully will be ready to harvest soon!

Welcome to Garden Views, a new blog on the Misunderstood Eggplant devoted to my outdoor adventures in the garden. This will largely be a photo-blog, with pictures to chronicle the growth and progression of the plants within the garden.

I also hope to include some creative writings based on the garden and the plants. This will be a slight departure from some of the other blog postings, but will tie in nicely with the new Veggie Tales special project (which focuses on recipes made from vegetables from the farmer’s market and the garden).

Fortunately, the previous owners of our house had planted rhubarb, which returned this spring. We used this as the start of the garden and expanded from there.

Here are some pictures taken from the ground breaking of the garden and the first couple weeks of growth:  

Above: My nifty sign and garden gnome.

Above: Pathway of red stones.

Above: Finished ground-breaking with fence.

Above: Pathway stones to the garden.