Dates be damned, summer has started. Any time of year featuring 90 to 100 degree weather cannot be called spring. Now that the monsoon season has ceased and the sweltering days if summer are underway, I spent the weekend digging into the dirt and getting the garden ready.

Wonder Boy and I tilled out garden and worked in lots of compost. In our raised bed I have planted beets, radishes and four varieties of green beans. We have two Topsy Turvies® with tomatoes hanging from our porch and they’re doing great. Next up is planting two types of hot peppers, squash and two kinds of kale. Then I think we’ll fill up all of our pots with tomato plants and peppers.

As awesome and chic as I think the backyard garden looks, the reality is that our backyard only gets sun in certain spots. (In fact, we’re contemplating giving up even trying to plant things in one large portion of our garden. Instead? Hammock! Not bad, right? Unfortunately, hammocks are a little more expensive than seeds so we need to save up.) To make up for this gardening redistribution, potted veggies are going to be out in full force along our driveway and the kale and squash are going to be in the front yard, I think.

All of this is in addition to the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) we joined this summer. I picked up the first shipment this weekend: kale, mint, garlic shoots, green onions and more.

Welcome, Summer. I’ve missed you.

This post originally appeared on Kate’s Point of View. © Kate. All rights reserved.