I'm not sure how much seeding under lights I'll do this year. On the 19th I'll be getting a hip replacement. The shelves and lighting are in the basement, which will probably be off limits to me for a while. If I start them now, DH, will only kill them. I'm going to try to get some winter sow out next week. If not, I'll wait until I can manage the winter sow after the surgery. I do have lots of pots near my windows in the kitchen and dining room. I've already cleaned some spaces in the large pots to sprinkle some lisianthus seeds. We'll see what happens.

Well, that's a shame. I hope you can get the wintersowing done, one way or another.

I just ordered three chrysanthemums from Bluestone.

The website didn't have the ones I had seen in the catalog so I phoned them and ordered that way.

I am trying to be good and *not* go anywhere where I might be tempted to overindulge...

There are plant sales going on all over the place right now. However, I had been intending, all winter, to order some mums from Bluestone, so I finally just did. Instead of worrying about whether I could actually afford it or not.

Good for you, Kyla!
I have a shortlist of 'must repurchase for this year' tenders/annuals, but somehow whenever I tell myself, 'okay, I'm going to take care of those few plants', somehow it multiplies!

I hear that!

So, I am trying to be good and *not* stop at my favorite nurseries and *not* google anything I want right now...

*sneaks up and ties Catmint's hands to the seat and hides her wallet*

See, this is one of the benefits of doing jugs and jugs of winter sown plants. For a while in spring, you can't even think of BUYING a plant, you have too many you have to get in the ground!

So the fact I bought plants tells you my jugs, they are all a-planted. Or pretty much.

It's a good feeling!

Yes, it's so gratifying to watch something sprout and bloom that you've sown yourself--but I'm also addicted to that thrill of walking through the nursery and bringing home something bloomful and beautiful!!

Oh, me too! And it's more the work involved during the planting-out phase than the thrill of it, keeping me from wanting MORE work of planting.... But, now.......

I totally understand--this year I felt too tired and worn out to do all I had intended with the seeds I had ordered online, so it could be a surprise for me this year, exactly what comes up and where!

I hope they are nice surprises.

Here I forsee a lot of summer weeding sessions, as there is couch grass everywhere and it must be dug out. The more plants I can put in, the more I can eradicate this stuff, so I am motivated. One wholebed is waiting for things like tomatoes to become big enough to plant out, and for comfrey and borage to get big, and cucumbers to get big, and meanwhile that grass is thinking to take over, all perky... so Ima get after it one day soon.

weeds are taking off here, too!
Is that a bed you lasagned?
My one lasagna bed for this year is still full of dried leaves and other mulchy stuff--have to wait for next season to plant it.

Yes, it is, and the other lasagnaed beds still have couch grass also. It is very deeply rooted so the solarizing only discourages it. But! the soil prep makes itmuch easier to eradicate by hand because the soil is workable and not compacted, or less so. It can be very satisfying to grab hold of a big ole root and tug on it and have two feet of it come loose and out, just like that! And the plants are still new enough it doesn't disturb them very much even if it's right under them.

That sounds like super workable soil!

It isn't always that sweet, but the fact that it is sometimes is an accomplishment, in a former "lawn" yard!

I've found lasagna-ing works wonders for the soil that grass used to occupy!