Seeds and Sunshine

I think I can safely say spring has started for real now.  Despite a few recent snowfalls the temperatures are starting to stay consistently above freezing during the days and that means it's time to start seeds!  I actually started at the beginning of March with onion seeds as they require lots of growing time before the solstice in June.

The plants need to be well established before then because once the days turn around and start growing shorter then it's time for the bulbs to form.

Onions have been the only thing growing though for the last month.  The real bonanza of spring planting began last week.  Tomatoes, gaillardia, and rudbeckia hirta have all germinated.  Basil, sea holly, catalpa, and clethra have been started but have yet to show signs of growth.  I also tried magnolia seeds but am not having any luck.  Any tips for a magnolia novice?  The seeds have a very hard coat that hasn't seemed to soften with water so I nicked a few of them and will see if that does anything.

I'm a bit late getting to this but many thanks to Kevin at The Nitty Gritty Dirt Man for honoring me with the Sunshine Award.

Kevin started his seeds long before I did and is already transplanting them out to larger pots!  Lucky man.  Thanks to him sharing his gardening experience I now know that geraniums are easy to start from seed.  I think I know something I'll be trying next year!

The Sunshine Award asks me to answer a few questions for you readers so here goes:

1.  What is your favourite colour?  Yellow.  or maybe red?  but then I'm quite partial to blue.  Obviously I'm a bit indecisive on this front.  I think rather than name one colour I would say I prefer strong shades of colours.  No pastels for me, I like jewel tones.

2.  What is your favourite animal?  Despite the strong possibility that I may offend the cats I'm going to say horses.  Cats can't read can they?

3.  What is your favourite number?  Definitely four.  Best year of my life hands down.

4.  What is your favourite non-alcoholic drink?  Why the bias against alcohol?  Tequila has feelings too you know.

5.  Which do you prefer:  Facebook or Twitter?  I actually have a Facebook account so I guess I'll have to answer facebook although frankly I don't use it and find it incredibly pointless.  But then I can't understand why in the world people text either so I guess you could just label me a dinosaur and be done with it.

6.  What is your passion?  The garden, always the garden.  It's more like obsession.

7.  Do you prefer giving or receiving presents?  I like giving but it depends on if I think I have a good gift to give.  When you find that perfect gift and can't wait to give it to the person and see their reaction that's a great feeling.

8.  What is your favourite pattern?  That would insinuate I know something about fashion which apparently I don't because plaid seems to be the only pattern I can think of and I definitely don't like it.

9.  What is your favourite day of the week?  A weekday that I don't have to work.  It rarely occurs but when it does it's a major treat.

10.  What is your favourite flower?  Favourite flowers are always the newest ones, something I haven't tried yet.  Watching a new to me plant grow and monitoring its progress is my favourite thing to do.  Once I've watched it grow awhile then I get excited about the next new flower.

Part of receiving the award is passing it on and so I picked ten of my must read blogs.  I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I do.

1. Top of the Meadow  A city couple gone country.  They have baby sheep!!
2. For the Love of the Soil  A local certified organic farmer tells it like it is.
3. The Wind and the Wellies  Rampaging chooks and peedie dogs.
4. Northern Gardeners Almanac  Melanie proves just how much can be grown in a cold climate.
5. My Weeds are Very Sorry  The weeds might be sorry but I'm never sorry to visit Laurrie's gorgeous garden.
6. Life DOESN'T begin at Retirement  Jane has a plan and she's making it happen.
7. Casa Mariposa  It's like visiting a welcoming friend and being allowed to hang out in her house and garden whenever you feel like it.  Plus she's got a great sense of humour.
8. Gardeningbren in Nova Scotia  I aspire to Brenda's garden.  It's beautiful, welcoming, provides food almost year round and she makes it look so darn easy. 
9. High Altitude Gardening  Taking tough garden conditions and making it work.  and she takes the most amazing horse rides.
10. Canadian Garden Joy  With a name like Joy it makes sense she's one of the most cheerful and happy bloggers out there.   and she takes a mean sky shot as well.