I don’t care what the white stuff on the ground says, it’s spring. Days are lengthening, things are budding, and it’s time to start germinating seeds for summer gardens.
Gardening is good for the mind and body. Which makes it a particularly good thing for writers, who tend to be very hard on both in the course of writing books. There’s also the money-saving aspect of growing produce, but really, just messing in dirt soothes the soul.
Last spring I didn’t know what I wanted to do with the rest of my life, I just knew I was tired. I spent three months laboring in a garden and by the end of that, I felt sane again and I knew what I wanted to do. And then I got pregnant, but don’t let that stop you from grabbing your hoe and peat moss. I doubt I’d be having a third child if I was still constantly freaking out from stress, though.
Gardens can be big or small and anybody can benefit from the experience regardless of space. Even if you have no yard or enough light for a container garden, you probably have some nook for a hanging Sweet Potato Vine.
As for us, the 5 yr old and I germinated apple seeds which are now ready for a tiny pot of their own. Someday those seeds will be trees, and by the time they produce fruit, I’ll be glad to have something to remind me of the little girl who was so excited about saving and sprouting apple seeds.
It is impossible to stay unhappy in a garden. 🙂
Despite my frantic covering-up and babying, I lost a bunch of rose bushes to multiple frosts and freezes this year, so I have much replanting to do. Interestingly enough, the cranky evil old heirloom bush I inherited from the previous owner, which should have died years ago, just began blooming. I’m beginning to think the only thing that will kill that bush is a nuclear attack.
I can’t bring myself to get rid of the holiday pointsettias I have out in the hanging baskets (despite the warmer weather they’re still growing like weeds) so I’m thinking about planting them somewhere in the yard.
Your poinsettias will probably do okay planted out! Too funny about your cranky rosebush. When the mushroom cloud rises over the landscape, the rosebush and the cockroaches will rule.
I’m more into flower gardens, but agree–love getting into the dirt, watching them grow.
Can I ask how you managed to get the apple seeds to germinate?? I’ve tried it before, with absolutely no luck!
Flower gardens are so beautiful. I’m going to at least put together a color bowl for the front porch after the snow melts.
The trick to germinating apple seeds: start with organic apples, not produce grown to not reproduce. Many commercial plants have nonviable seeds. Save the seeds, let them dry, then get a paper towel wet and put a few seeds on it, seal in a plastic sandwich baggie, and place in a window sill. Within a week it should sprout. You can also plant them directly into moist soil and put them in a windowsill. Plant 3 seeds to a pot so at least one sprouts.
Didn’t know about the nonviable seeds!
Will give it a try, Charli–thanks. 🙂
Seed companies discovered if they modify ’em to not reproduce, they sell more seeds. Gotta wonder how much nutrition that leaves in the plant. : O Organic for the win!