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Seed Starting

by | Feb 18, 2005 | Uncategorized


Here’s the thing about seeds. You order something from Select Seeds (LOVE that catalog) and as a bonus for ordering seeds, they send you… more seeds! Nearly every time I order something from Peaceful Valley, they ask me to choose some bonus seeds. Friends send seeds impregnated in greeting cards. Real estate agents leave seed packets at the door in hopes that I’ll let them sell my house. Friends are very generous with their extra seeds. The point is, I have enough seeds to start a seed company.

Does that stop me from ordering seeds? Of course not! I am always in search of new and wonderful (or old and wonderful) varieties that area nurseries don’t sell. I also promised myself I’d make an effort to find seed sources for Annie’s Annuals’ tempting plants so I don’t have to look my son in the eye six short years from now and explain to him how I frittered away his college education on really cool annuals and perennials in pricey little 4″ pots.

In addition to the seed section of the greenhouse, I’ve also been forced to set up a plant hospital. Until I get some sort of gate set up to keep the puppies out of the main garden area when unattended, there will be plant casualties. The list just keeps getting longer and longer. I don’t blame them for digging. It’s what dogs do. Heck, they see me doing it! Until I get a chance to “explain” to them which beds are off limits, I have to be prepared for plant triage.

As I write this, the puppies are curled up with each other, sleeping. They’re probably dreaming about digging.

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Super Garden Sunday

by | Feb 9, 2005 | Uncategorized

What football game? I honestly couldn’t tell you who was playing in Sunday’s game, but I can tell you that Super Bowl Sunday is a great time to make a pilgrimage to Annie’s Annuals! Traffic was a breeze and except for getting way lost in Richmond– No, I did not remember to bring a map, but I did remember to bring chocolate… It’s just that chocolate turns out not to be a very good navigational tool– we made great time.

We were also blessed with very little nursery traffic, which made plant perusing much more relaxed and enjoyable.

Here’s my haul.


Sparaxis grandiflora ssp. grandiflora

Leptosiphon ‘French Hybrids’

Romulea atranda

Linaria purpurea

Penstemon heterophyllus ‘Blue Springs’

Ixia dubia

New Zealand wind grass (Stipa arundinacea)

lavender breadseed poppy

For lunch, we continued up the road to 4th Street in Berkeley. Cafe Rouge. Yum. Stopped at The Gardener, which I think should be re-named The Fancy Table Setter. It’s not very gardeney these days… Hopefully that’ll change with the season…

First Greenhouse-ripened Tomato!

by | Jan 15, 2005 | Uncategorized

NOT ACTUAL SIZE (it’s only about an inch and a half, but exciting nonetheless!)

Will report back later with a flavor assessment…

Ok… it’s later and I can now offer a taste evaluation. My January tomato was tasty, with that fresh, gardeny tomato fragrance and sweet yet somewhat zingy flavor. My only complaint is that some of the typical ‘Caspian Pink’ juiciness was replaced with meatiness, perhaps because of the longer ripening time.