How Does Your Garden Grow?

I love gardens!  When I was in college, I got on a gardening kick and started one at my parent's house when I came home for the summer.  Since then, though, I haven't had the space to create my own, I've only been able to admire others.  I was inspired a couple of months ago while visiting my best-childhood-friend's mother's house.  She has to most wonderful variety of garden vegetables and herbs.  I loved it!  She says that, now that her kids are out of the house, she has time for a big, beautiful garden like this. 

 She spends about 1 hour a day working in her garden but, clearly, the results are worth it.

While I still don't have the time to spend on a garden like hers, I noted her little window herb garden and decided that I did have time for something like that!  I got this wire window basket from Joann's with a 50% of coupon for $15.

I already had a bag of potting soil, so I bought 4 packs of herbs from Lowes and went to work.  I planted two of the seeds directly in the basket outside, but I had to start the other two seeds inside and then transplant them after they'd grown big enough.  At this point, I've transplanted all of the seeds and am just watering and waiting.

It's funny though; I'd heard that Cilantro was really hard to grow and my Cilantro is growing better than any of my other herbs.  I'm very proud!

The other three herbs that I have are:

Parsely

Rosemary

...and Dill. 
I'm sad that my dill isn't growing better because I looooooove dill!

I also got a sprig of mint from my mother-in-law and re-potted it; it's growing wonderfully!

This type of garden is super easy and inexpensive.  It's great for people who work, have kids, and/or just don't want to devote tons of time to a garden...you have your own fresh herbs and spices AND it's a cute adornment to the exterior of your home!

 I am on the lookout for some cute labeling stakes for my herbs, but haven't found any.  I picked up these cheap, white ones at Wal-Mart for the interim, but am hoping to find something better soon.  Let me know if you have any ideas of where to find some.  I know that Target has had some in their dollar section in the past (because I bought them for my mom) but, when I went back, they didn't have any.

Maybe one day I'll have gardens as beautiful as the ones I visited at Biltmore :)

and a coi pond, taboot

...well, at least I can dream. :)

Happy Gardening!