I have germination from some of my saved Lantana seeds, and from Ipomopsis rubra from @molanic in another swap, as well as a few more. I haven't sown much yet and I'm thrilled to see green.

But, (imagine the sound of trumpets), I am excited to announce that the fern spores are becoming prothalli! The Adiantum tenerum are the first to emerge after 11 days. When I checked this morning I almost dismissed the green cast to a section of the container they are in, but a closer look with two pairs of glasses and a magnifying glass was revelatory. The Boston's were placed in identical conditions several days later, and I expect them to follow suit sooner or later.

I'm 💃🏼. First time I've grown baby ferns myself. I would like to thank my enablers, @bxncbx and @AudreyDee.

Anybody else feeling germy?

Achillea and agastache germinating, Matsumoto asters from @ishareflowers, and a few others. I plant seeds all year long here in Central Florida, all outdoors. I follow pretty much what I learned in Winter Sowing in the north, only I don't use lids since it can get hot really fast here - although it means watching moisture levels more closely, and protecting from the &^%$! squirrels.

We do get occasional freezes here, too, and this year we had a double day at Christmas. I'm pretty sure I've lost the mango tree I started from seed 3 years ago which was taller than me. Keeping my fingers crossed, and for my banana as well. But that is the reason I have to have so many seeds. At least, that's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it.

Good for you Kim!

How exciting to have the ferns growing and so quickly! I have a couple hardy ferns in the garden but they don't like me much.😂

I haven't sown 1 seed yet! We have been unseasonably warm here. My nemophila reseeds that were supposed to be sprouts in the spring sprouted last week in my grow boxes and we went down to 19° last night so they're done.😔 I believe my snapdragons will suffer the same fate.

I don't know when or if I'll get around to sowing seeds this season.

My daughter and her husband need some extra help right now and times ticking.

My daughter's mother in law went into the hospital 12 days ago throwing up blood. She was told she had bleeding ulcers after endoscopy. They cauterized them while they were in there but she kept vomiting up blood. They waited a few days and did an MRI and cat scan yesterday . They discovered several masses in her body and said it was inoperable cancer.

She died an hour and a half later. So unexpected.

They don't seem to even know what happened yet except for she was bleeding from everywhere and 5 bags of blood were given but she passed anyway.

I'm so sad for her and her family. She was only 72 and a very excited first time grandma. The poor woman only got a few months with the baby.

Any suggestions on a plant I can add to my garden for her would be appreciated. I know it would mean a lot to my son in law, her name was Louise and she loved my garden beds.

Anyone have good news of any kind to share?

Aw, Lisa, you've had a lot on your plate - roller-coaster-y. My mother-in-law passed away in 2022, and she had an unbelievable green thumb. We gave her a small white rose bush years ago, which she nurtured into a large, beautiful shrub. I planted a white rose in my yard in her honor; let's hope I can keep it alive and nurture it as well.

Did your daughter's mother-in-law have a favorite plant? If nothing specific, I would recommend a perennial, something that either blooms or otherwise brings color. Where she passed away recently, you could plant a red twig dogwood, that would provide color in winter. Or perhaps an area of your yard with varied daffodils, bringing spring. And roses are always nice, if you have any luck with them.

You are stretched a lot of ways now, but in a few years, you'll be taking that granddaughter out in your yard with a kid sized trowel, and showing her how it's done.

☮️

Lisa,
That is so sad! Perhaps the 'Lovely Louise' rose which looks lovely. I was going to suggest the Louise Odier rose until I discovered that Odier can mean "I hate" in Latin. (Sigh.) I'll keep your daughter's family in my prayers.

I'm happy to hear that the spores are germinating for you, Alana. I dibbed on some of the Boston type myself but haven't gotten around to planting them yet. However, I have sown begonias, lisianthuses, and cinerarias--some of which are starting to come up.

Also, I'd planted all of the gerbera seeds Jessabelle sent me in the earlier trade, since I knew they often don't hold their viability long. But it looks as if most of these ones came up. So, I'm asking myself what I'm going to do with 20-some gerberas!

@AudreyDee , those would be great options if the rabbits/groundhog did not eat every rose bush I've planted aside from a blue foliage one within 24 hours right to the . I appreciate the suggestion though.

@poisondartfrog , I misread and thought it was Kim that posted about the fern spores! Congrats to you on getting them going already! Thank you for the daylily suggestion, I'm going to go look some up right now!

Lisa, I'm very sorry for your loss too.

I couldn't find the right words, but babbled anyway and have deleted my errant ramblings.

Lisa, that's so sad about your daughter's mother-in-law: my heart goes out to her whole family. I'm sorry for your loss.
edited to add: just saw that there is a Daylily and a Penstemon named 'Charlotte Louise' (but can't find suppliers for either one with a quick google search)

Both ferns have given me prothalli, and are doing great, despite a watering accident where I did not secure a nozzle properly and obliterated a row. Still plenty left.

The Popcorn Cassia has popped, I have Ipomopsis seedlings and two kinds of Digitalis seedlings, some Verbascum and more. Next time I'll post some photos, but I'm going to move the discussion to Mile High 3 then, or reply to a thread someone else starts there. So glad Lisa posted it. This year I'm going to start early and strategically plan my 100 offerings. Like I always say I'm going to do.

I hope you're all sowing and growing or dreaming and scheming at this point. I'm like a Robin with my head cocked to one side, listening to subtle movement toward spring.

Alana, thanks for your inspiring post - it helps me to cope with contractor's craters and piles and churnings etc to better hang in there and maintain resolve to sow when things look up...have been doing the Ostrich thing too much.

The contractor (collectively) are all excellent at what they do as well as with addressing communication stuff - that's the sunny side.

Am considering a bulk pack of poppy seed once contractor leaves - and just flinging the seeds everywhere. Maybe I'll mix in some dwarf sweet william and blue nemophila and Malcolmia and...and...Centaurea cyanus Miss Jekyll white and 'Classic Magic' and Asperula orientalis and ...

Viva those hardy annuals - who could leave out larkspur?

I'd welcome any/all ideas - just gonna risk common, cheap flowers - maybe they might have been special in my grandmother's time?