Oh the joys of seed starting

Well the meconopsis seedlings are up and some of the arabis and androsace seeds from the BC rock garden society are up now too. We have 4 trays of heirloom tomato seedlings from the seeds I bought from Baker Creek.

The dreary days of Winter, the dreamy days of seed catalogs

In these long dark wet winter days in the Pacific north west I find the only ray of sunshine to be the many seed catalogs that fill my mailbox. There is something wonderful about sitting on the sofa with a mug of chamomile tea contemplating just how many of the offerings within you truly need. I read each one at least a half a dozen times trying to decide what plants are mere pretty posies that I would love to grow but could live without and what plants who's absence from my garden will cause me to lose many hours of sleep for weeks on end. If there is anything that my compulsive orchid shopping has taught me, it is 'when in doubt buy it.' I know how awful it sounds but on any occasions I have decided not to snap up an orchid I 'kinda liked' I have spent countless nights tossing and turning wishing I had bought it. The same goes for the seed catalogs, If I see something I really like I may as well get a package or two. This seems all well and good at the time but, then when all the seed packages I remember just how many of them need to be started indoors 12-14 weeks before our last frost. Oddly enough I seem to have selective amnesia about time and space required for the early starting by the next winter when I am looking back through the new catalogs.

The seed catalogs are only a small part of my catalog joy in the winter, the real rush comes from the spring bulb and perennial lists. When the glossy pages of my favorite bulb catalogs arrive it is time to celebrate. The chamomile tea is replaced by a glass of good red wine (if anyone asks it slows my spending....) All the yummy new things, Exclusive to one company, New Release, Award Winning, all words that make my mouth water. I make a rule when these catalogs arrive to circle the things I "need" in pencil the first go around. Then put the catalog down for a day. After my cooling off period I go through and read the descriptions, do any necessary research and then think about it again. A few days later I pick up the catalog and circle the things I really really need with a pen, then online I go to place my order. the only hard part after this is figuring out where all the plants are going to go. I am sure you all know what I mean, somehow in our minds the garden is always larger. Suddenly you realize that the space for your new lily bed is already your herbaceous border.