What will your garden grow?

It's no secret that I really admire first lady Michelle Obama. Since the election, one of her projects has been to plant a vegetable garden at the White House. The garden was designed to inspire children to eat healthier foods, make better choices, taste the fresh food difference, and to learn how to take care of our earth. Each member of the Obama family will participate (yes, even Barack) in taking care of the garden, and the White House staff will prepare meals using vegetables from their plot. Isn't that wonderful?I have been thinking a lot about what I will plant in my garden this year. Of course I will do our family staples: tomatoes, squash, zucchini, and cucumbers, as well as herbs like chives and basil. I even went to D.I. and stocked up on Mason jars for canning! However, this year I'd like to mix it up and do two new veggies that I have never planted before. Unfortunately I'm limited by space (or I'd probably do nothing but corn), and wondered if any of my dear blogger friends had suggestions? What vegetables do you like to grow in your garden?

Along with our veggies, Mike and I have cherries, raspberries, and strawberries. We decided that this year we would plant at least one new fruit tree in our backyard. Mike wants a peach tree, and I want an apple. Maybe we will just have to compromise and plant both! I am fantasizing about fresh peach pie and jars and jars of homemade apple butter. *sigh* But before I get started, I want to know what my friends have in their yards. What variety are your fruit trees? How is your yearly harvest? Is there anything in particular your kids enjoy? And most important: how do you keep the birds out?! Any and all suggestions would be most helpful.

Happy Earth Day!