One of the things I love most about Arkansas is how things grow. There are distinct - very distinct - growing seasons, and the difference between one and the other is jaw-dropping.

 We've struggled with our gardens, and with adapting to new growing seasons. In California, we had almost full sun on all sides of the house, and with enough water the same plants would grow from February straight on through December without trouble.

 In Arkansas, we moved in the middle of winter, so we had no concept of just how outlandishly lush our neighbors' trees would become in Spring. So, naturally, when we built our planting areas after moving, they were in the sunniest patch of our yard - in winter. We got all of our planting done by early Spring, and then only in the middle of our growing season did we notice that our plants were stunted and starved for light, because they shadow of our neighbor's magnificent old oaks covered them almost all day long.

 As it turned out, our best growing patches were the complete opposite of where we'd thought. But, live and learn, right?

 So, here was our new planter this past winter/early Spring for planting:


 We even took the time to set up a small fence for our dogs (and whatever fosters/rescues the year holds) and an irrigation system, which is something we've always talked about. Note our long-suffering Fig tree caged by cinderblocks in the upper-right. That fig has been the victim of repeated dog rampages and barely grown an inch since we planted it, but it's been an absolute champ and is still kicking and trying again this year.

 Our Muscadine vines, which were naked twigs this winter, have also come back with an astounding ferocity!
 They were free-standing up to now, but I ran a trellis this winter to hold them up and get them higher off the ground, following some how-to's that seemed to suggest hanging from a high trellis is best for Muscadines.



 Even to the point where it looks like we might actually get fruit this year:


 Now all of the above pictures and story are from early Spring, just the earliest stages of the earth-shattering green cataclysm that is full-blown Spring in the South.




 And here it is now in mid-Summer (dog provided for scale):




 Not only are they thriving and quickly taking over the trellis, but this is after I cut them back from pulling down our fence. I'm very glad I opted for the tall method, otherwise those vines would have taken over half the yard by now!

 And of course, those tiny proto-grapes are coming along nicely as well:


 Despite our fits and starts beginning our new garden, it's doing amazingly well this year, and no doubt we'll expand on what we've done in the years to come.

 There are few things more satisfying than your very own garden in full bloom :)