This and That

My garden Buddy. He loves digging as you can see.


I am so ready for some gardening. I started some seeds for lettuce and broccili. OK guys I know you aren't gonna believe me but I have never started seeds inside for planting outside before. This year there will be a lot of that considering I have an abundance of seeds this year thanks to blogging friends.

These are the seeds I will be working with this year:
From Tatyana at My Secret Garden I received Red Melon Poppy's and foxglove.

These are seeds I received from Catherine at A Gardner in Progress: Yellow Columbine, Verbena Bonariensis, Larkspur 'shades of blue' and Red Breadseed Poppies.

These are seeds I received from Raingardener at Gardening by Trial and Error:
Sweet William 'sooty', white columbine, malva zebrina, lupines, silver dollar/money plant, hardy geranium, snapdragons and columbine rose.

These are seeds I received from Hometown Seeds:
snapdragon, Alaska shasta daisy, wildflower mix and four o'clocks-Marvel of Peru.
Plus some veggies: broccoli, cilantro,tomato,lettuce,carrot and melons. There will be more veggies as they become available this year.

So this weekend I was ready for something to plant so I planted my lettuce and broccoli seeds. I used this starter mix.



I purchased these foil pans with lids and poked holes in the plastic cover for drainage. The clear cover will hold the seeds and foil pan is for excess water to drain.

The starter mix was purchased last year and each pan soaked up 3 cups of water before planting. I added water and mixed and let it sit for a half hour before checking it for moisture and added more water so that the soil is good moist all over and is the perfect consistency for planting seeds. I did 12 holes for each pan. I am planning on planting these at the end of Jan in the flower beds since they are so dismal right now.

I found a little color in the yard this weekend. This volunteer flower just showed up. Don't know what it is but there were 3 flowers.

You see the briars in my flower bed. This is the hardest thing to get rid of. It is such a pest and so hard to get out of the ground and still you never get the roots. I have some plans for those thorny weeds - I'll get em.

Can't believe this azalea is still holding on and producing new flowers. I wonder if it is going to keep blooming into spring.

I visited my favorite gift shop that I mentioned was going out of business. Another hit by the economy. Just before the final closing of the doors I scraped up these pots and iron bird feeder. I stole the pots for $10 for the pair and believe me they are heavy and thick. I picked up the heavy iron bird feeder for $7. I so love a bargain.

Well that's about all I've got for today. I have been writing and planning and more writing and more planning for spring and summer. I know it's a ways off but I'm dreaming of pretty colors and warmer temperatures.

I am starting something new for me on my sidebar. I needed to make a plan for the year ahead - something I failed to do last year. I put up my goals for Jan which are certainly slim considering how cold it is and is going to be. I have been journaling and making lists and lists of lists. Are you a list maker too? Anyway I'll be sharing some of my gardening goals for 2010.

I know you all are just as excited as I am.