Herb Experiment #4: Update on plantings

Since most of the family is in bed (Husband and Hannibal are both vomiting this evening), I thought it might be time to give an update on how Herb Experiment #4 is going.  This weekend, while Husband took the boys to swim lessons, I stayed home and potted plants into containers.  

First was the pumpkin.  I think I will have to sneak the pumpkin into the ground somewhere.  We're technically not allowed to have a vegetable garden based on our homeowner's association, so I think I'll have to find an out of the way spot for the pumpkin.  Everything I've read says you can do container pumpkins, but only if you go with small varieties.  The boys happened to pick seeds for a 10 pound pumpkin. . . The pumpkin is in the white pot with the trellis for the vine.

We also had bought a cherry tomato plant.  Just one.  It's in the reddish-brown pot with the trellis.  I'm hoping to let the kids eat some cherry tomatoes off the vine.  In the little green container, I potted the cilantro Iago asked for at Meijer.  I am hoping they come back from their wilted state since they weren't very robust to begin with.  We also picked up some thyme at Meijer and planted it in the blue planter in front.  These are all part of the herb experiment, but not original plantings.

In the original purchase and herb planting, I planted rosemary, basil, and strawberries. They are thriving as you can see in the picture.  The strawberries have already yielded 2 edible strawberries, puny in size but really sweet.  We continue to watch.  I just moved all the plants out onto the patio this Sunday from their location in the sunroom, so I'm hoping that will help speed growth.  I can also water them easier from the hose (thought the rain tonight means I don't have to water!).  The placement on the patio means that when we have our windows open, the fresh scents of basil and rosemary waft into my house.

Once that was done, I moved the philodendron from the Library out to the Sunroom (see below) onto a new plant stand we bought.  The aloe plant is on the bottom shelf, but needs to have a new pot since it's been dangerously leaning.  We also had picked up some plants from a garden center using a Groupon.  One was for a variegated houseplant that I put in a hanging basket.  Now to find a place to hang it inside. . . I also separated my violets from 2 pots into 5 separate pots.  I'm hoping they survive.

On the outside of the house, I laid out some snapdragons and some coleus in a pattern.  We have a guy who came over later on Sunday who is going to do our weeding and mulching for us.  He will also plant my annuals.  Now to get the pond in shape, separate and pot the baby spider plant shoots, and clean the inside of the house.  Have I mentioned yet that we're hosting Husband's mom's family over Memorial Day Weekend?