Fun With Seeds 2010

When the month of January rolls around, after the holiday hubbub, a gardeners thoughts turn to…what else but gardening. But little in the way of growth is happening outside, even on warmer days so another head turn (no we are not Linda Blair) takes us into the sunroom/greenhouse, home of Fun With Seeds.
(Seedling of Sanguisorba tenuifolia)

Last year lights and heat mats were added to the system.
(Seedling of Dahlia ‘Bishop’s Children)

With good results. So good that several seeds were started well before the holidays this year, to get a head start.
(Seedling daylilies and Salvia transsylvanica, ignore the Phlomis tag, it hasn’t germinated. Yet.)

Some were started more recently.
(Newborn Hyssop officinalis)

Fun with seeds entails record keeping here at the Fairegarden, because we love that kind of thing. Dates and names, success or failure is duly noted. The oldest seed starting records found were from 1989. Interesting. Yes, no, came up, no it didn’t. It seems that someone not only talks to themselves, they write notes and sass back to themselves.

It is nearing time for the big seed exchange put on by Monica the Garden Faerie. You may click here to get the details about how to sign up. Do join in by emailing her at gardenfaerie02 at yahoo dot com, but hurry, she is cutting off after January 8! (Sorry, US only due to massive paperwork required to go outside the country, but maybe you could organize something in your own area :-)). Last year was the first time we have ever participated in such an endeavor, and it was all good. One thing learned was that the store bought envelopes are just as desirable as home made for packaging the seeds, especially when the numbers of them start to add up. This year we bought a box of 3 x 5 size at the office supply big box, similar in size to professional seed packets that will fit into the sorting box used here to store seeds until planting time well. Added: Since this post was written without conferring with Monica ahead of time, Impulsive, thy name is Frances!, might it be suggested if you cannot get it together to join in by the cutoff date, or her lists are already full, that you start something like this yourself among your friends and family. Just an idea.

There are seeds that have been saved from the garden to share, Redbor Kale.

More, Chinese Trumpet Lily ‘Regale’.

And more, our own special nature made cross of marigolds, Taegetes ‘Queen Sophia’ x ‘Tiger Eye’, among others.

There are leftovers from last year. All will be repackaged for the exchange, something for everyone!

This is the third posting of fun with seeds. To read last year’s story click here-Serious About Seeds-Still Fun. The photos from the first year of seed posting, 2008, are recirculating as a slide show, along with other odd shots on The Financier’s computer screen. To see the post click here-Fun With Seeds. When this particular shot appears, guests never fail to question what the heck is the NO! sign about. When I am alone and this shot bubbles up, it illicits a chuckle from the lazyboy, every single time. It never gets old.

Are you now, have you ever, or do you plan to have fun with seeds?

Frances