Growing

My tomato seedlings are doing well. I am sooo happy about that! I don't, as a rule, really have good luck starting my own seeds.  I start them early, or late, or don't have enough light. I overwater, or underwater, or the cat decides to eat them... y'know how it goes with gardening. Something always doesn't quite work out the way you planned. My pepper seeds are up, but they have stalled in their growth a bit. I am guessing because the house has been a bit chilly the last week or so (damn cold rain and snow) and I don't have a heat mat for my seedlings yet.

I did finally start the seeds for the summer squash and cukes. Theoretically I am late on that, but with the weather the way it has been, I figure it just might take a week or so longer this year for it to be warm enough outside to keep them happy, so I should be fine. Gardening is forgiving that way.

I keep watching the tulips outside my living room window. The buds are swollen, almost ready to burst. It is a slow process, though, and I find myself cheering them on silently. "C'mon, kids! You can do it! Open those pretty little buds and show me your spring colors!" I think. I know the tulips are working hard. They are in part shade, in a part of the yard that is always a little cooler. I had actually wondered if they would really come back this spring, with as little sun as they get. I love that plants are willing to really try to grow wherever you stick them. They will give survival their all, no matter how unfortunate their circumstances. It's a beautiful thing.

I have been watching my hosta push little spikes up through the soil, and the irises have begun stretching their fans of leaves towards the sun, as well. I love the way you can watch the plants make progress day by day in the spring. Every day, I can go on a treasure hunt through the yard. It's exciting and fun to see the progress of each plant.

~...and that's all I have to say about that...~