That Time of Year Again

Yesterday, the first of February, I went out to buy potting soil and more plastic containers hoping to plant at least some of the seeds I collected last year.  Unfortunately, other things kept me from doing more than unloading my supplies.  (Looking back on this post, I hope to be reading it while sitting at the desk for two that Jeff and I designed to fit our needs--the project that took precedence over my seed planting.)

Today, I underestimated how long it would take to even prepare everything for the seeds.  After drilling holes in the 12 new containers I'd purchased, I went out to fill them.  The compressed potting soil was much more difficult to dispense than I remembered.  I guess it did take me a long time to get it all loosened up last year too.  Before I'd finished filling the third container, Jeff was already calling me in for dinner!  Oh well, apparently I'm ahead of last year...I went back to check, and see that, in the past, I've not potting things up until mid-to-late February.  I still have time.

I only got three filled, went in for dinner, and never went back out.

Actually, I was really early in sowing seeds this year--back in October, right after planting some of the seedlings I grew from last year's winter-sown seeds, I immediately refilled the containers with (loose) potting mix, wet them, sprinkled seeds over the soil, and covered them with a little more soil and a screen.  But, I really shouldn't brag, because last year was the first year I didn't get all of the seedlings in the ground before it froze.

At least eight containers of seedlings that were not planted yet.

They don't look like much, but I think they will be fine.  

These have been waiting for spring since October.

After weeks of unusually cold temperatures, the polar vortex, and the return of the polar vortex, we finally had a warm up--the low 40s...and it felt great!  It really did get me started thinking about spring...and it even looked a bit like spring too with the melting snow.  Who knew that my Greek valerian, Polemonium reptans, (a native plant despite its name) was evergreen.  I really should pay closer attention to these things.

I guess it is Groundhog Day; I should be thinking spring.  I have no idea what Phil "predicted", but spring is on its way...and each day we get a little closer and will see more signs.