You Stay Classy, Planet Earth (Happy Earth Day)!

Today is Earth Day, a day intended to raise awareness about and inspire the protection of the natural environment of our planet.  It is a day to be green and take stock of the things you are doing to preserve Earth for future generations.  I try to do my part.  I recycle.  I bring my own reusable bags with me to the grocery store.  I try to turn off lights when I am not in the room.  OK, maybe I don't do this last one as well as I do the others, but I promise I try.  One of the biggest (and also smallest) things we do is grow our own organic garden for most of the year.  All of the pictures below were taken in my backyard.

Columbine, a favorite perennial of mine (as you can see, I planted it 3 colors)

I do the flowers.  Husband does the fruits and vegetables.  We do we assist each other, but basically I am in charge of aesthetics and he is in charge of feeding us.

A few of my rose bushes.  They are mostly covered in rose buds this early in the season.

In April, everything smells amazing.  The roses, jasmine, and citrus are all just starting to bloom.

variegated pink lemon, plums, lemon, peaches

There are bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies everywhere (but not in this picture).


Jasmine, partially blooming

The berries are just starting to form.  The bushes are full of flowers.

blackberry flower, tiny blueberries

All summer long, we are able to go into our backyard and pick fresh salsa, salad, spaghetti sauce, pies, lemonade, fajitas, home fries, and I could go on and on.

Pictured from top left: garlic, broccoli, celery, potatoes, asparagus, rosemary, kiwi, corn, celery

I didn't grow up in a gardening family.  I didn't even know how to keep a houseplant alive until I bought my first house.  I learned quickly, and now I can't imagine not being able to go into my backyard and pick my own organic produce.  This has been a fun hobby that husband and I can do together, as well as a small way we can be a little greener for the planet.  What are you doing for our planet this Earth Day?