I feel I hardly have time to blog, and yet my whole life seems to be related to gardening right now. Alas, my own garden has been neglected despite that!
The schoolyard habitat progresses well. The design is approved pending one final signature, fundraising is beginning, the masonry is scheduled, and parents and kids are getting enthusiastic. Dig Day is March 27, and dedication should occur on Earth Day. We’ll be needing lots of plants, that’s for sure. And lots of springtime rain (after the planting) would be nice! I’m just saying….
I’ve been collecting lots of seeds I’d like to try to grow into plants — for my own garden as well as that of the school, and it seems I’ve got so many that I have no clue how I’m going to manage them all. I suspect that what this will all amount to is me eventually tossing a bunch of seeds into the yard and seeing what happens. But in the meantime, I’m reading about cold stratification, scarification, spring sow, fall sow, do this, do that, keep it dark, keep it warm, give it 4-8 hours of light, wait until last frost, sow before last frost, seed starter mix, sandpaper, moisture, optimum temperatures, and so forth. If there’s an insanity flower, I might have already sowed that in myself when I decided to go seed-happy.
What seeds do I have? Laugh at this list, why don’t you: Passionflower, Lantana, Lemon Mint, Common Sunflower, Maximilian Sunflower, Hairy Vervain, Indian Blanket, Purple Coneflower, Prairie Blue Sage, Dill, Firecracker Penstemon, Lanceleaf Coreopsis, Compass Plant, Green Milkweed, Antelope Horns Milkweed, Pigeonberry, Turk’s Cap, Red Columbine, Gayfeather, Black-Eyed Susan, Standing Cypress, Scarlet Sage, Tahoka Daisy, Fennel, Nasturtium, Spanish Flag Vine, Gaura, Scarlet Globemallow, Fleabane, Allium, Yellow Coneflower, Artemesia, Little Bluestem, Cutleaf Coneflower, Leadplant, Hibiscus, Datura, Pride of Barbados, Esperanza, Marigold, Pipevine, and two unknown sets of seeds that I collected at some point and forgot to label. And of course, there are more vegetable seeds to be planted. Some of these seeds were gifts — the rest I’m guilty of buying.
INSANITY! Now, will all of these make the final selection? I seriously doubt it. The ones that will be for both my garden and the school habitat get priority. Next come those that are easiest to grow. Ones with wildlife value are right up there. Non-natives come last, except that Spanish Flag Exotic Love Vine — it made it to my must-have-at-all-costs list. Besides, who could resist a name like Exotic Love Vine? Between Exotic Love Vine and Passionflower, it’s going to be a mmmmmmarvelous year.
Hi, Meredith ~ Glad to hear your schoolyard habitat is going well. I’m sure it is a lot of work and they are lucky to have you! You have a lot of seeds…looks like you are going to be busy. 🙂
For us, who don’t know it, what is that lovely flower? Delicious mix of colours!
Diana, it’s the Spanish Flag Vine, also known as Exotic Love Vine. That’s a picture of it from my San Miguel trip last October. I absolutely fell in love with it. I’m sad that it’s likely to have to be considered an annual for my area.
I hope that Exotic Love Vine is a good reseeder, because I might have to have it, too!
How hard is it to grow Exotic Love Vine, I wonder?
No, I must not get any more seeds. Don’t tell me.
I think I’m worse than you in the seed mania department, only most of my purchases are vegetables, not flowers. I’m glad to hear you’re busy and the schoolyard habitat is shaping up, everything falling into line. It’s wonderful what you’re doing for those kids. Glad to see you back for a post, but we understand you’re busy for a great cause. 🙂
Well, the easy reply is that I really don’t know how hard the vine is to grow. I have a few seeds, and I’ll try 2-3 ways to get them to germinate. I’m hoping for success!
The habitat process has been very rewarding so far, and parents, students, and staff have all been so supportive. We’re already looking ahead to other large eco-projects in the years to come!
That’s a lot of seeds! I have a fat pile, too, but about 1/2 of mine are veggies. The rest are for the cutting garden. Wildflowers were sown earlier and I am hoping this rain is helping them out in the wild areas. Good luck with all that – especially the love vine! What a hoot.
I too am glad that most of these would not be suitable at all for our chilly zone 3 🙂
But I did see a post on Old House Old Garden’s blog that has an excellent seed organizing box that sorts them out based on start dates. If you want a compromise between just scattering them and a full on analysis paralysis you can just sort them into start dates, start in pots in a warm place, place under strong sun or lamp and transplant when ready. That’s my sanity technique to keep from getting overwhelmed. Anything else and they’re out of luck!
http://michaelweishan.com/gardenblog/?p=1782
I see nothing unusual about your list or in the fact that you have a mania for seeds.
Wow meredith, you are worse than I am. Every year I promise myself not so many seeds and always break the promise. The huge box grows bigger every year. That along with all my collected seed. How you have time with the school project I have no idea- but good for you.
Hi Meredith, just came across your blog & loved the photo of the ‘seed basket’! Noticed some of our seed packets are in there so thought I’d just say way to go! I have a big vegetable garden & also have some of the same priorities in my plantings around the house… good for wildlife & easy to grow. Just got done planting a bunch of wildflower seeds yesterday evening right before the rain came. Exciting change of weather! Anyway, thanks for your support of natives. — Emily, Native American Seed
Thanks, Emily — I’m a native girl, that’s for sure, and I love Native American Seed. Time for fall planting already — time flies!