Garden Goals for 2015

What is a new year without resolutions and goals?  Every year, we try to improve ourselves and I feel the exact same way about my garden.  I want my 2015 garden to be even better than my 2014 garden.  I want to become a better gardener in 2015.  Here are some of my goals, projects and wishlist items for my garden in the new year:

1. Produce 100+ pounds of fresh, organic fruits and vegetables
2. Plant a new shade tree in the courtyard
3. Plant 4-5 rose bushes along the neighbor fence line
4. Plant sunflowers throughout spring and summer for cut flowers and seeds for wildlife
5. Plant 3-5 berry shrubs or trees for the birds
6. Plant at least 3 more blackberry bushes
7. Plant 5-10 more host plants for butterfly caterpillars (native milkweed and passion flowers)
8. Plant 2-3 globemallow plants in the front fence line bed
9. Plant at least 5 new dahlia tubers in the bulb bed
10. Plant at least 2 new varieties of ornamental/wildlife grasses
11. Try squash one more year, using cover rows to prevent squash vine borer infestations
12. Install at least 2 birdbaths and 5 birdhouses
13. Become monarch way-station certified
14. Plant more evergreen plants (shoot for 1/4-1/3 plants to be evergreen)
15. Improve succession/companion planting skills (read 1-2 books on the topic)
16. Propagate more plants to share with family and friends (try at least 3 different and new plants)
17. Install new backyard fence
18. Build back patio stairs and incorporate new garden bed into the landscaping
19. Install at least one rainwater tank
20. Post 100+ blog posts

Some of the items are a bit more achievable than others.  The building projects take a lot more time and money, so they likely will not all happen, but they are certainly on my wishlist for the next couple of years!  I'll be happy if I can achieve at least 12 of the items on my 2015 Garden Goal list by this time next year.

Happy New Year!