Pawprints Garden
February 14, 2006
Step 1: Site Description:
My site is very simple for the moment and probably will be later too because I chose to do a container garden starting them inside because it is too cold. I chose to do an herb garden because I want to start experimenting with them and I figured growing them is the very beginning of that. The reason for the name Pawprints Garden is because I will eventually have a plant especially for my cat and an area for my nephews to help me so eventually they will all have their little paws in it somehow.
I. The garden will be in my house and my backyard.
II. The area the plants are starting in is a spare bedroom in my house which has a window and ground level and lots of sunlight coming through. The area they will be moved to is in my backyard, I have 2 large barrel size planters that I will be using once the frost is gone and they can survive outside. They are located on my patio just outside my kitchen window.
III. The current area they are in is a windowsill in 3 inch pete pots in loaf pans lined up. The area they will be going to are large barrel sized planters about 2 feet in diameter. They will be receiving lots of light, about 8 hours per day as of now. I used organic potting soil to plant them. It is very loose and somewhat dry but it drains well. As of now, I have no water features but eventually I would like to put a small fountain or miniature pond in the planters. I have started with four types of herb and hope that they all grow. The reason I chose these is because I am new to the gardening theme and I wanted things that were very simple and well-known. I have german chamomile, rosemary, lavendar and catnip. As of now there is no animal activity evident although we do have lots of squirrels in our backyard. Eventually I will consider some kind of fencing or netting to protect the catnip from neighbors that might decide to come and visit. The reason I chose my house for the site is because we have a great yard for this and the house we live in once was a home used for caring for children. I'm not sure if it was an in-home childcare or foster home but we have handprints in the cement in our driveway so I know that these children have made this a good place and once the weather gets a little better, my nephews, nieces and cousins will be playing in the yard as well. It is a very welcoming area. Eventually I would like to plant some bright, colorful flowers to 
add some color to the trees and bushes we have.
Step 2: Vision
I have already decided what I want to plant and carried it out. For me, this garden will be my first attempt at actually growing something with meaning. This is a major learning experience because I have never been a gardener and I never really thought I would be because I just don't have time. My life is very fast-paced and I noticed that I always want the things I do to be a speedy process. Although for now, my garden is very small, I know it will teach me a great deal of patience and possibly how to slow down for a change. Eventually I want to know enough about gardening to have my nephews and nieces help me and teach them.
I imagine my garden as something very simple. Right after I got the assignment I narrowed down what I wanted to plant and I went ahead and did it. So after watering and checking, watering and checking, finally there are very small sprouts of catnip and chamomile. Right on time. This is very exciting for me because my patience has paid off but now I have to wait for the next step. The lavender and rosemary have not yet sprouted but once they are all ready and it is time to put them outside, I ha
ve decided that I would like to put the lavender and chamomile in 
the front area where the small handprints are because they are both so commonly used with children. I think this would be the perfect place. The rosemary and catnip, I will still put in the planters in the backyard.
