Seeds, Seeds, Seeds

During those dreary days of winter - you know, like NOW - I've pored over the seed catalogs, making lists of new things and old. Things I want to grow for the first time, and those that I want to grow again. It's sort of like that saying that your eyes are bigger than your stomach, except in this case, my eyes are bigger than my garden. Or least bigger than my garden is currently.

Last year, Romie said I couldn't dig up any more of "his" grass. He said that the year before, too. When we first expanded our gardens a few years ago, we would walk out back together and get to work. Then as I started wanting even more space, I'd start it, and he'd end up coming out to help later. Then he'd say, "No more." That happened a couple of times.

I think maybe this year we will have evolved to the point where I will start digging up grass, he'll come and help, and I'll say, "Thanks, honey!" and he'll say, "You're welcome." He's probably figured out it doesn't do any good to tell me I can't dig up "his" grass.

So, back to the seeds. I've got oodles. I don't even know if an acre of all garden and no grass would be room enough to grow all of them. That's the thing about seeds. There are so many wonderful things to grow, it's hard to make a decision about which ones I want. And they're so inexpensive that I figure I'll just buy the seeds and make the final decision about which ones to plant when planting time comes.

Some of the new things that will be sown in about 6-8 weeks are:

• Scabiosa 'Summer Berries Mix' (Scabiosa atropurpurea)
  
• Globe Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
• Purple Dark Opal Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
  
• Cupani's Original Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus)
• Sweet Pea 'Cupid' (Lathyrus odoratus)
  
• Livingstone Daisy 'Gelato Formula Mix' (Dorotheanthus bellidiformis)
  
• Salvia 'Coral Nymph' (Salvia coccinea)
  
• California Poppy 'Mission Bells' (Eschscholzia californica)
• Texas Bluebonnet (Lupina texensis)
  
• Zinnia 'Profusion Fire' (Zinnia elegans x angustifolia)
  
• Zinnia 'Profusion Apricot' (Zinnia elegans x angustifolia)
• Red Butterfly Weed (Asclepia curassavica)
• Amaranthus 'Pygmy Torch' (Amaranthus hypochondriacus)
  
• Bunny Tails Grass (Lagurus ovatus)
• Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena globosa)
• Prickly Poppy (Argemone mexicana)
• Xeranthemum 'Immortal Mixture' (Xeranthemum annuum)

These are in addition to the things I've already winter sown and the saved seeds from last year's annuals, such as the morning glories and gazanias. There are still a few new ones I want to get, too! My seed sources (so far) for this year are Monticello's Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic Plants, Swallowtail Garden Seeds, Seed Saver's Exchange, Lowe's and Walmart. I've ordered from Park Seed previously and will probably place a small order there soon, because they've got a few things I want that I can't find locally.

Sometime next week, I'll start some seeds in Jiffy pellets and peat pots here in the house. Now if that's not a sign of spring, I don't know what is. Of course, at this point, with snow still covering the ground, I'll grasp at anything.