4/27/15 Edited to add: My cousin informs me that the peculiar reddish puffball things on the tree are the flowers of a red maple; the magnetic-fish-looking ones are sedum; and the small blue flowers are scilla (though they look to me like the flowers on a vinca vine; maybe they’re related?). Thanks, Anne!
This is the first year I’ve planted from seeds, and the results are gratifying so far; I planted them last Friday and saw little sprouts begin to emerge in less than a week. The seed packets themselves have lots of information about planting depth and sunlight requirements, but I also found the book Successful Container Gardening to be helpful.
The dryer is near an east-facing window and is a perfect height for planting, as well as an out-of-the-way location for the seedlings to get their start indoors.
I planted four varieties of tomato seeds – Sun Gold, Supersweet 100, Jelly Bean grape tomatoes, and “Gardener’s Delight” cherry tomatoes – and chives and thyme. I meant to get basil and nasturtium also; I may try to add those soon.
Here are the tiny tomato seeds.
And even tinier chive seeds.
The red jelly bean tomato seeds were dyed, but I planted red and yellow together, about three seeds in each little section. The book advised making little holes in the dirt with the tip of a pencil, which worked well.
Here’s the peat tray all planted with seeds: tomatoes, herbs, and bunny tails (a non-edible grass). The extra green pots also hold thyme seeds, and the extra brown pots hold more chives.
And look! A mere six days after planting…
These are the Bunny Tails. (I’ve very glad I drew a diagram of what I planted where, as the book suggested.)
These are some of the tomato seedlings sprouting. I think if you stood in front of them for an hour you’d actually see them grow.
We won’t be running out of thyme anytime soon! Pun very much intended.
It’s April! Spring has sprung! By which I mean, temperatures are still mostly in the 30s and 40s, and when it creeps into the 50s it’s usually accompanied by rain or mist. But it’s spring, and here’s proof:
My mom was visiting for Passover, so she got to see the spring flowers without having to suffer through the 110 inches of snow. Someone was very excited to greet her favorite houseguest…
And when Mom left, Sudo took full advantage, burrowing under the covers and sprawling on the pillows.
The seder went well, with good friends and good food and a chaotic retelling of the parts of the story people remembered (we have the Maxwell House haggadahs, not the most comprehensible or up-to-date. Note to self: get new ones before next year).
Sudo did not drink four glasses of wine, but you’d never know it from the way she passed out on the couch after dinner:
It's Okay, I Have A Book 