Tea Cup Gardening

Every once and a while, on a whim...a well intentioned, thought out whim....I decide to try my hand at gardening. All my friends tote the glorious, uplifting, grounding, self satisfaction of gardening.

All of them...except maybe "Sweet Pammy".

I, on the other hand...was born a princess...my family may not have realized it, my surroundings may not have reflected it...but make no mistake. I was born to be pampered, to shop, to enjoy the finer things in life. It's who God created me to be...what's a girl to do?

In all truth...I am allergic to dirt and all things "gardeningy". No, you have no idea!

All windows must remain closed all Spring, planting of 10 sunflower seeds last year sent me to bed with Benadryl...then there is this teensy weensy phobia of worms...

I'm lying...I can not STAND worms...they send me screaming under the covers. (It's my brother's fault...he and some other young boys chased me with worms as a child...then, I had nightmares...now, I am a wuss).

This year was different though...I have thoroughly enjoyed the great outdoors of Spring and have not paid with 14 hours of drug induced sleep for having indulged in this wondrous time of year. I am thrilled and very, very thankful. (I am listening to the sweetly singing birds and feeling the gentle breeze of Spring through my open window even now as I type...Truly a Miracle!)

My new found out door freedom, coupled with my family's love for what we call "Fresh salsa", (in reality it is Pico De Galla), adding in the idea that I might actually be missing out on some soul soothing rituals...I decided to plant a Salsa Garden.

Since I have not yet been miraculously delivered from the whole worm-nightmare-thing...I decided planter gardening was the perfect fit for me. That and the fact that weeding is a chore not fit for a princess.

I did some homework, I'm an intelligent princess after all...with a love for fine cooking, fresh food and the need to be creative. This can't be that hard right? EVERYONE posts these beautiful pictures of their lush, fruitful gardens...EVERYONE, (except Sweet Pammy), goes on and on about how wonderful it is to be one with the dirt. The absolute joys of sowing, watering, weeding and harvesting.

I WANT TO ENJOY BEING ONE WITH THE DIRT....but in a more refined sort of oneness.

I bought herbs...(seeds are still for the wonder women of gardeners), Tomatoes and Peppers and because I had been so proudly talking of my plans at work...my boss bought me a lovely little bush of Cilantro.

Ahhh...Cilantro, the miracle herb that pulls the whole Salsa/Pico together...Yummy Cilantro.

I am not simply a summer-on-a-whim-cook, I am a serious year round cook who loves using fresh herbs....fresh herbs that are so very expensive to buy and then rot because you can't use them all up in a timely fashion.

My solution: An INDOOR herb garden to enjoy year round. Simple! I have everything I need except the artsy-Jen part: a wonderful planter.

Last weekend I found it.

Actually I liked it so much, I bought two!

Bold, Bright, Beautiful T-Cup planters....the color contrasts made me so happy I just KNEW my herbs would feel happy and thrive too.

Last Sunday, I rolled up my sleeves, recruited my youngest child and got busy. We planted our Rosemary in a large planter outside as I am told it likes to grow quite tall and full...(mmmmm, Pioneer Woman Rosemary Buns). We planted my 2 VERY Happy T-Cups. One with Chives the other with that lovely Cilantro. We even went a little crazy and planted Sun Flowers. I LOVE Big Happy Sunflowers!.

Though my nails and the dirt were definitely one, I wasn't yet feeling the Love but as I scrubbed the dirt and positioned those wonderful T Cups on my sunny plant shelf in my kitchen...I had visions of amazing dishes made all that much more amazing by these delicious herbs lovingly tended by my own 2 hands...I was beaming.

My dear Gardening Guru Friend Holly wanted to see pictures of these Happy, happy

T cups...thus, this Blog Post.

Are they Not Absolutely Wonderful!?!?!

My Fairly Happy Chives...

(made our scrambled eggs taste incredible!)

T-Cups for 2!

...and...my not very happy looking Cilantro.

Seriously! They were lovely and green and firm a few short days ago...

...Until my Black thumb touched them.

Limp, Pale very SAD looking Cilantro.

HOW am I supposed to make yummy fresh Salsa with pale, limp Cilantro?

My Gardening dreams are dashed yet again...is there any hope?

Help!