Project: Sprout & About

Good day, dear reader. Today, I invite you to take a look inside the Sprout & About greenhouse. I haven’t really shown the interior as a whole because I was always in the middle of doing something, and truth be told, there is something constantly changing in this sprout garden. That’s the very nature of my project. However, if I continue to look for the perfect time to reveal these photos, I may never find it. So instead, I will embrace the ongoing process and say that now, it’s the ideal moment to peek in!

And here, a little “disclaimer”, perhaps you already guessed it – I am loving every inch of it! Let me walk us through…

As We Enter…

It’s the middle of summer, where the nights are almost as warm as the days, so I keep the doors and windows of the greenhouse open all the time. Approaching the entrance of the greenhouse, we see a grape vine growing on each side, a plant that was growing here even before I decided to embark on this gardening journey. It was clear to me that it would be an essential part of my project. My idea was to create these green “walls” and “ceiling” to frame the entrance, directing the branches as they grew. Take something like what they have in those Mediterranean houses, where the vines grow around their streets, rooftops, and pergolas; my vision was something along those lines. And now that we are in July, I am absolutely delighted to realize that it has become just as I had imagined it. The grape vine is creating such a beautiful entrance to the greenhouse, and honestly, it’s reaching even further than I had expected. The grapes drop from the top so beautifully that it really reminds me of a dreamy land.

Please allow me, I cannot help but romanticize it, just a little bit ❤

Below the grape vines, I have planted different herbs and marigolds, too, of course. At the beginning of the summer, I had a pest problem that motivated me to plant those fragrant herbs like the rosemary, mint, and oregano for pest control, and they have really worked wonders. Oh well, certainly there is, perhaps a little unpredictably, also a chili plant underneath it. There was a time when I had nowhere else to put it, and although the spot is a bit shady, it seems to be growing there just fine. My sweet chili o’mine.

What I love about this green entrance is that it welcomes you to dive deeper, with the air slightly humid and a fresh breeze dancing with the leaves.

A Few Steps In

After stepping in and passing the grape vine, I reach the first garden bed and a big, bushy, joyful marigold that’s almost like lying on the sidewalk. Later, I came to realize that this marigold was too eager to leave its home, and I had to make some changes here and there… more about that in a minute. But looking on the left side, I have my workstation, where I store my gardening tools, a couple of soil bags, and an avocado plant. Right beside it, a few extended grape vines as well, reaching for more space for themselves.

As I look further, throughout the greenhouse, these bright colours of yellow, red, and orange pop out everywhere between many more lush shades of green. It’s mesmerizing, and I am taking it all in. Being inside the greenhouse, I can immediately sense the calmness within the space. I feel the strong aroma of the plants and flowers, and simply being there, observing the moment and the plants, their growth, and their colours, grounds and soothes me. There are many lessons I have learned from these sprouts, which shall be a topic for another post… It’s that tranquility, peace, and quiet that I find inside the greenhouse, which makes me very grateful.

In The Middle Of The Garden Beds

All the while, I enjoy the greenhouse and the pops of colour, I tend to the flowers and plants. And there I am, in the middle of the garden beds, thinking how glad I am that I did set all three up, because as the project progressed over the months, I was starting to run out of space to put my brave sprouts in (like that chili under the grape vine). If I hadn’t been as curious during the early months of this year and found a few extra garden beds in the basement, I would have set only two beds in here, and I would have been in trouble by now. Yes, that’s how much everything has grown! I am running out of space – what a beautiful problem ❤ And while I observe and attend, I also notice the changes in my body and how present I become minute by minute, the more I let myself to be carried away by the moment.

Being here inside the greenhouse and looking around, I feel the profound impact of the small change I made a few days ago on the greenhouse. For better or worse, it was time to dig out the old marigolds and make space for the new French variety. I can already see the plants benefiting from the increased sunlight that had earlier been blocked by the bushy marigolds. I am not blaming them; it was me who planted them in tiny pots too early, and as a result, they grew all downwards and curled up. That growing style was a blessing in disguise, as it allowed me to enjoy the beautiful colours far into the summer. But now they started to take over the greenhouse, and it was time to move on and make the sacrifice.

But you bet, it wasn’t easy to let go of the hard work I had put into growing them, so I tried to replant them in as many corners of the garden as I could think of. Those curled-up marigolds that didn’t make the cut outside stayed with me in the vase on my table, also cheering the bees.

They look as vibrant as a sunset, don’t they ❤

And luckily, it’s not only the marigolds that bring so much joy into this environment, but also other plants are growing more and more abundantly. As I move further, the beautiful green colours transform into tomatoes, watermelons, cucumbers, chilis, and so much more. It’s a space for so much discovery and richness, even if I say it myself. Many of my brave sprouts have now borne fruit, and the cucumbers have suddenly started growing so fast that I am directing them over and above the middle path. I am dreaming of the falling cucumbers from the top as I walk below them. In a few weeks, that might very well become reality. And the bees, once more, oh, how happy I am to discover they have found my greenhouse. Without a doubt, their favorite flowers are those of the cucumber’s yellow blooms; they are constantly buzzing from one to another.

By The Table In The Back

Touching every stone on the path, slightly cold, with my bare feet, I grow in happiness as I get to the back area of my greenhouse. I know, I am softly dreaming every step of the way as I reach the back. It’s like the greenhouse makes the time stop, all the while I know that so much is happening anywhere I look. And under every rock, too, there is so much life because that’s where the spiders, the ants, and other insects do their thing, and together it all makes this tiny ecosystem flourish. There’s no one without the other ❤

Finally, I’m reaching my tiny white table, two chairs, and an incredible view over the entire greenhouse. What a walk full of sensory experiences, realizations, and discoveries. That little corner has been a place for countless hours of meditation, contemplation, and reflection. It’s in a perfect spot where I can see everything, and I feel great contentment with the way the layout of this greenhouse has turned out – so functional yet visually appealing. The tiny details and various plants all tell their own story, adding their charm to the overall atmosphere of my humble greenhouse. It can all be observed from that tiny corner.

And I don’t know; I just can’t help it. I’m being a little romantic again, but how could you not if you really let yourself get lost in the greenhouse magic like this…

Often, this is the moment when I sit down around my table and reflect. Having made it all the way through the greenhouse, I have seen and observed many things, and it has made me thoughtful. It’s time for reflection, perhaps on what my greenhouse work list will include that day, or simply meditating on life’s purpose.

What a simple greenhouse, right ❤

I thank you for coming along and wandering through my dreamy greenhouse, a place that has become much more than just a place for a pot, some soil, and leafy greens. I included photos taken at different times of the day, and perhaps you can notice how the feel of the greenhouse changes from having the early morning sunbeams to late evening dew. I find it so extraordinary ❤

I am sure I cannot hold off on sharing a post about the harvest for much longer, because, oh yes, we have collected and enjoyed the first green goodies and even made food with them. It’s terrific!

Until then, staying present and dreaming on ❤

Thanks to the support from the sponsors for making any of it possible, so a shoutout to you ❤
You know who you are.