Wednesday, March 5, 2008

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.

16 comments:

growingagardenindavis said...

What a great list of seeds! I've ordered from Swallowtail the last few years and really like them, too.

Nancy said...

Your garden is going to be a paintbox of color!

re the Texas Bluebonnets...they have to be planted in the fall, as they need time to germinate, grow and then flower.

Leastways...that's what we have to do down here. If you do try for it this year, know that the seeds have a very tough coat and do better if you score them (lightly) before planting.

Lisa at Greenbow said...

OOooo that purple and white cosomos is glorious. I want some. I want some of everything. teehee..

Lisa at Greenbow said...

P.S. We deal with 'grass' issues every year. Ha...

Anonymous said...

The promise of seeds is just too hard to ignore! I have oodles also but time will tell if they all get tucked in and about somewhere!

Frances, said...

I want every single one of your choices except the prickly poppy! We have grown that and every single part of it, the leaves, stem, roots, everything are like a cactus, lovely if you don't have to go near it, but even gloves are not protection enough. So beware! ;->

Frances at Faire Garden

Entangled said...

Ooh, I like the morning glory. Is that Blue Picotee by any chance? I just picked up a packet of those a few weeks ago.

Priscilla George said...

I'm in love with the first flower picture. You have showed it before. You always have wonderful plants. Thank you for the list of the places your buy from. I was going to ask you but noticed you said them. Good luck with your seeds

Anonymous said...

I just received some in the mail from Renee's Garden http://reneesgarden.com. The packets themselves are exquisite! You might sneak a look over there. But I'm sure you have your hands full already!
Brenda

Anonymous said...

Pretty morning glory, and so bright! I had my seeds out looking at them today, way to early to do anything up here in Maine, but I love to look and plan.

Unknown said...

I LOVED Cupani's sweet pea... but I didn't start mine early enough to get much bloom before the season ended. So thanks to you for the reminder--I should get mine going this weekend!

(By the way, 'Opal Purple' and 'Red Rubin' are two of my absolute favorite basils. Yum.)

Unknown said...

That's the most glorious morning glory I've ever seen...it's as good as a blue poppy, Kylee, if you want the truth, and far longerblooming. All these seeds are giving me the urge to do something seedy too. Mmmmm.

Yolanda Elizabet Heuzen said...

Happy sowing! That's a nice selection of seeds you bought Kylee, hopefully they will all come up.

Anonymous said...

I'll be interested in knowing how you fare with the Texas bluebonnets as they sprout in the fall and overwinter before blooming in the spring down here in the native habitat. They need about five months of growing and establishing their roots before flowering.

However, I have had bluebonnets which sprouted in May and bloomed in December. So it might work. Or you could grow them in pots.

IBOY said...

I'll be interested to hear how you do both with the bluebonnets and the butterfly weed... actually you whole list (poppies, bluebonnets, salvia) almost looks like a list for somebody living in Kansas or Oklahoma or something... the winter must be getting to you.
Don

Kylee Baumle said...

The Texas Bluebonnets are the only ones that I hesitated on, because the perennial lupines here that I grew from seed two years ago haven't even bloomed yet! However, I bought them locally, and the back of the packet says 15-25 days to germinate and 60-90 days to bloom. That's one that I will start inside next week.

Entangled ~ Yes, it's Blue Picotee! :-)

Brenda ~ I've seen Renee's packets in some of our local garden centers and have purchased a few before. They're works of art!

Thanks, everyone, for your comments and suggestions! :-)

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