landscaping

Bless you, Goodwill, not only
for the regular entertainment, but also for the occasional thrill. 

We're
landscaping our backyard this week — finally!  I won't confess how
long we've lived here with no yard (hm-hmm – years).  We installed a
patio and raised garden beds last year, but then the summer overtook us.
Outside is the last place you want to be in the Arizona summertime. 
Now we have the sprinklers set and the garden beds filled with dirt. 
Two pallets of sod arrived this morning and we're in the final sprint.

Gardeners
here enjoy two growing seasons each year.  (Yeah, I know, isn't that
awesome. For the most part, the weather here is gorgeous.)  Though it's
late for planting a summer garden, I'm not giving up.  I'm going to see
about adopting some larger plants from the nursery.  Even if all I can
do is tomatoes.  Then tomatoes it will be.

In fact, I'm going to
call the nursery right now. 

Here's the
scoop.  I guess it's the tomatoes that are the bigger concern.  I'm told
the blooms need to "set" before the weather reaches 100 degrees.  If I
can pull that off, then I'm home free.  So, it'll be Early Girl tomatoes
or Celebrity.  Then, I'm still in the clear for peppers, eggplant,
squash, zucchini, etc.  And herbs.  Basil goes nuts here.  Last time I
had a garden, basil was my favorite luxury.  Homemade pizza with basil,
yum.