Army of Seeds

So, here is the game plan. Step one: now that it's beginning to get warm again, seeds must be planted in time for them to become large and bountiful plants by June 1 (a.k.a. first likely planting day). In the line up: salvia, oregano, lupins, and petunias. If even one of the petunias doesn't germinate, I will demand my money back. Highway robbery, and for what? I'm used to seeds costing between $1 and $4 for quite a large quantity, whereas I received exactly twelve petunias; that works out to 66 cents apiece, if I was charged taxes. I'm crossing my fingers for the lupins, because I sowed some mid-summer last year, and there was nary a sprout to be found. I hope they look as weird in real life as they do in the picture.

Second step: assuming all the snow will be gone by the weekend, I need to clean out the tiny planting area next to the front walk, and toss in a few bellflower seeds among whatever else is there: they didn't flower last year, so I have no idea what they are, but perennial flowers of some sort have appeared already. Oh, and I may have noticed two tulips in the mix, as well. Anything will be better than weeds, at least.

Third up: the veggies. Thanks to the show "Grow your own veg," I have formulated an ambitious plan. I will build a raised bed or two, about four feet square. One will contain corn, beans, and my already proliferating pumpkins. The square shape should encourage corn pollination. Combined, these vegs are known as the Three Sisters: the broad pumpkin leaves, low to the ground, provide shade for the roots of the other two, and the beans hopefully grow up the corn stalks. A symbiotic garden relationship! The idea is very exciting. The other two veggies waiting on spring are carrots and parsnips. I'll sow them in my back door planter, which will also accept oregano and arugula plants. Sunflowers are also in this category (thanks to my haphazard photography) but I don't have much of a plan for them. There is a sunny spot in the front yard that should be great.

Last but not least, the dainty things. As a souvenir from a wedding last fall, there are three discs with embedded and unknown flower seeds that will be deposited into a pot or two. The violas may end up germinating alongside my other early flowers, especially as I've carefully followed the instructions and refrigerated them for the past two weeks--although McKenzie's instructions are slightly vague... do I keep them cold for two weeks, or until two weeks before sowing? Finally on to one of my favourites! According to instructions, I'm going to have to wait until late summer before planting my delphinium. That gives me time to create a fence or lattice to support them, anyway.