Sitting.

This morning I had  minor surgery and am not supposed to lift anything over 30 lbs for six weeks.  Right now I am feeling very sore, having a difficult time walking, and taking percoset for the pain.  I anticipate that this will last for a few days.  So on this brilliantly beautiful day I am sitting.  Yup.  Sitting.  Butt to sofa.  Necessities within reach.  Feeling a little woozy.  Sitting.


Anticipating my imminent immobility, I spent the entire day gardening yesterday.   I pulled out my "potting station" (see pic to immediate left for chuckles), pots, soil block maker, trays, trowel, shovel, and a giant bag of soil.  I set up shop on the deck and began the projects that are more demanding physically.


One goal was to graduate some seeedlings into larger containers so they don't become root bound or tip over.   I suspect that this will be the last "potting up" before planting out - Yippee! 

Another goal was to germinate the last of my seeds (all flowers) and that was mostly successful.  One glitch is that many of my remaining seed packets suggest germinating 4-6 weeks before last frost and that time frame has long since passed.  I suppose I'll just keep the seedlings inside until they look strong enough to harden off and plant outside.  I do still have some seed packets remaining however, because the next glitch is that I ran out of soil before I ran out seeds.  Truth be told, I needed a stopping point so it was probably a blessing in disguise.  I guess I will just save them for next year and see if they will still come up.

A neighbor stopped by as I was puttering about and we were equally pleased for me to unload some seedlings on her.  Among other babies, she bravely accepted some of "Matilda's Mystery Tomatoes".  This variety got their name when my helpful 2yo switched around some labels early in the germination process.  Also taking advantage of the beautiful day, my neighbor's project du jour was dividing perennials.  And I am now the proud owner of some Stella Dora Lilies and Daisies!!!  If you've been reading my posts, you know how much I LOOOVE to have plants with stories other than "I bought this at...:"  While still able to dig, I grabbed my shovel and introduced these babies to their new home.

All day and evening I ran around doing this and that:  Direct seeding some flowers, moving around some planters, digging, weeding, and watering.  When my assistant was not helping me, I was also busy chasing her from potential chaos.  Not only was my  day quite productive, it also took my mind off from the anasthesia that was about to render me unconscious and the scalpal that was about the enter my flesh.  Once again, my garden helped to ease my anxieties.

Today I am grateful for the miracles of modern science, my garden, for the lasagne my neighbor/friend Larina made for our family. 

Oh yes, and for sitting.

 

Seed Organization

I have always had a tough time keeping track of my seeds. In the springtime, packets are often lying here and there, leaving me scratching my head and feeling very confused and disorganized.  ls this packet from this year or last?  I thought I bought cuke seeds, where the heck are they?  Oh crap!  I found the cuke seeds but now it's September!  See the problem, here?

At its extreme, clutter can be diagnosable for its compulsive, addictive and life-interfering consequences.  I'm sure you've seen the Dateline specials.  On an everyday basis, clutter is a serious challenge for even the average person.  I've become a lot better at it out of necessity.  With my new system of seed organization, I anticipate that both my garden and my mind will be much more pleasant and productive places to hang out.

Though I'm not tidy person by nature, I really dislike disorganization.  When I take the time to organize (or better yet, someone does it for me), I can think more clearly, I lose fewer things, and I don't end up wasting money from lost items.  Having purchased a ridiculous amount of seeds this year, I was a little overwhelmed by what needed to be planted when, indoors or outdoors, how long before last frost, days until germination, and so forth.  Determined to not waste these precious little embyonic propagaters, I really needed to come up with a system for packet control.

First I found a carboard box that would fit a couple rows of packets.  Next I made some "index cards" and created categories including:  Veggies, Seed Indoors; Veggies, Direct Seed; Flowers, Seed Indooors; Flowers, Direct Seed; Herbs, Seed Indoors; Herbs, Direct Seed; and Greens. 

I divided the packets into the appropriate categories and then divided them further with rubber bands by the number of weeks recommended to plant before the last frost.  I wrote those categories on the index cards with the seeds types below.   For example, with the 'Flowers, Seed Indoors' index card, I grouped together the flowers that require 10+ weeks before last frost, 8-10 weeks, 6-8 weeks, 4-6 weeks, and 3-4 weeks.  See the picture if I'm not expaining myself well.

 This next idea I stole from Lina at http://aptgarden.blogspot.com/.  As I plant the seeds, I have been placing the packet, empty or with seeds remaining, into a photo album with pockets for 4x6 pictures.  I made sure to choose an album that has space beside the packets to write information about when I planted the seeds, how I planted them, when and where I put them outdoors, and any notes on the resulting plants or vegetables. 

Do you have any ideas or methods for seed organization that you wouldn't mind revealing to me and the gardening blogosphere?  Do share!!!