The girls run out to the strawberry patch every afternoon and pluck ripe berries from under leafy green canopies. I’m a tiny bit sad that the plants I have are not ever-bearing. At the end of this month, they’ll stop producing, and we’ll have to wait another year for the vines to produce fruit.

And since I got swept up in the thrill of pruning and accidentally massacred my raspberry bushes, there won’t be those berries to make up for the loss of the strawberry haul.

Oh gardening, why do you have so many rules!!??

Our vegetable garden is trucking along. Some plants look better than others – I won’t lie – but for the most part, things are happening. 

It turns out that I can grow lettuce like a hot damn, though. So much so, that I forgot about a container of mesclun on the patio and it went ahead and bolted – like an indignant teenager who was pissed off because everyone was getting more attention than she was.

But if you want to make a salad, come to my house. I have more greens than I know what to do with. 

Mr. Suburble and I are still the backyard pageant moms to our Tumbler tomato plants. I shared on Facebook that we are having a head-to-head tomato-off with two equally sized tumbler plants that were planted in identical pots (with the same soil).

And when I say he and I are competing, I mean that I hover over all of the tomato plants, remove all of the suckers, water only the soil and drag each plant undercover should a grey cloud pass overhead.

Mr. Suburble comes outside and occasionally counts the tomatoes on his plant.

Lila proudly announced today, “Mommy has 14 tomatoes on her plant, and Daddy has 22!”

Of course he does.

 This is my parade of tomato plants. In a slightly awkward spot on the patio, but being fabulous, nonetheless.

Also, there are sad and wilted peonies in the background. Ugh. Get yourself together, peonies. 

You guys are a wreck.

Because of, or despite me, we’re having a good gardening year so far. 

Well… aside from the horribly unfair tomato contest. I need tips to boost my tomato plant into a more bountiful state. 

Ideas?