Gardening with a 4 month old

Yep. This is how we do it. Johnny-Jump-Up hanging from a tree. He’s in the shade, getting his feet in the dirt for the first time ever, and enjoying the fresh air.

And, yes, I have a tree in the middle of my vegetable garden. It actually works quite well. It’s a Bradford Pear tree and grows more upright than wide. Plus Bradford Pear trees are invasive and will sent up shoots EVERYWHERE if you try to cut them down. Wish I knew that years ago. So, to work with the tree, I just plant around it and it works! My vegetable plants on the west get shade in the morning and the east side gets shade from the hot afternoon sun.

Right under the tree, because of the constant shade, I don’t have much, but it’s where I keep a small tree nursery. When I find a tiny oak tree that sprouted from an acorn, or a maple sapling, or any other little bush or tree that I’d like to grow up a bit before planting in the yard (and without the threat of getting mowed over), I plant it in a large pot with drainage holes and bury it partway in the ground.