~domesticated~ Nature Observation

After class on Wednesday, I didn't make it too far out into nature, but I did sit on my patio to take a break and breathe the fresh air before heading back in to study. As I sat on the balcony, I observed my little plants (domesticated nature still counts as nature, right?)

Growing up in Alabama, I took for granted my agrarian environment. Beautiful trees and plants are abundant as are little critters and creatures. Everyone seems to have a garden, a farm, or animals. Between the church ladies selling fresh eggs and the Curb Market open almost everyday selling every fruit/vegetable/herb you could imagine, we never wanted for fresh ingredients or produce. Additionally, my parents grow everything from roses to rosemary so I'm used to thriving gardens at home. I miss being able to pop out to the back garden for fresh herbs so my sweet father and brother helped me start a little porch garden when I moved into my apartment in August. We planted 4 small succulents, a cluster of little basil plants, and two tomato plants.

Full disclosure, I've never had much of a green thumb, unlike the rest of my family who can grow literally anything. Seriously, my mom has a gifted indoor orchid (notoriously hard to keep alive) that has thrived for multiple years in our house and had ten (yes, t e n) blooms this year. She also grew romaine lettuce and green onions in a bowl on a kitchen chair during quarantine (see below). In contrast to her plant-powers, I've managed to kill four plants (and two sourdough starters if anyone is keeping track) in the past four years. My new-school-year resolution was to keep these plants alive.

Fast forward a month and the resolution is going... ok? I've been trying desperately to revive one of the tomato plants, but I think it's a lost cause. (In my defense, it didn't look too great when I planted it so it's not completely my fault, alright?) My other tomato plant is doing ok and even might be getting a tiny little bloom! My basil plants have yielded 4 pasta dishes and one tomato tart's worth of fresh leaves, and I'm hoping to grow enough to make some pesto this month. Jack has dug up the little succulents 3 times at this point so I'm not sure how long they're going to last, but, all in all, not bad progress for me and my black thumb! 

^Cherry tomato plant ft. sad dying heirloom tomato plant in the background