I don’t know about you, but I’ve had enough of winter. Seems like every time I turned around, I was shovelling snow, and as I write this a recent warm spell with record setting temps has melted most of the snow piled up out in the yard. More snow is in the forecast for the week-end. I am so ready for spring!

It’s time to rev up the grow lights, get out the seed packets picked up or ordered in the dead of winter, and load up the seed trays. Warm everything up, get the timing just right on the lights, add a bit of moisture and stand back. Within days, a miracle happens and those tiny seeds send forth a tiny root, seed leaves and then sprout their first true leaves, reaching toward the bright lights set above them.

Last year, I didn’t start too many different kinds of seeds- I don’t have a lot of places to garden here, so I figured that I’d just pick up a few four packs of annuals somewhere. I was sadly disappointed with the lack of variety available, and sorely missed Clyde Smith’s garden center. This year, I still don’t have a lot of garden space, but have picked up some of my old favorite annual seeds that I missed having last year.

There’s lots of shade here, so my impatiens did very well in pots on the deck, I saved some seeds from those. Along the driveway is enough sun for a few tomatoes, herbs and sun-loving annuals. I adore the little Star White Zinnias, so I picked up a packet of seeds for those, along with some Cinnamon Basil I had a hard time finding last year. I think I have some Phlox of Sheep seeds left, I’ll try to grow those again this year, last year’s plants did not do well at all and I really missed their beautiful colors.

The soil here is very poor, I have my compost bins working to try to rebuild some areas. I’m hoping that the leaves I left to rot in place will also help to improve the texture of the compacted areas along the drive. I’ll expand the small garden area I dug out, and make that bigger, it’s sunny enough for some annuals, but not sunny enough for vegetables. Vegetables are fun to grow, and taste great, but it’s hard to only grow enough for one or two people, so it’s not a big deal to not have them.

It’s an exciting time of year- just before Spring- there are so many possibilities, so many choices. We take all the new information we learned from our gardens last year, and apply it to this year coming up. Doesn’t matter if we’ve gardened the same one for decades, or like me, a brand new place. Things change and evolve- sunny areas grow shady, shady areas can be suddenly sunny. Every Spring is a chance to start again, try again with Hope for a wonderful new season. Can you dig it? Are you ready?

See you in the Garden!