And it begins.....

St. Pattys Day is when Matt's great-great-grandfather started seeds for his garden. And his Great-grandfather. And his grandfather.

So that is when I start seeds for MY garden.


(Yes, I am still backed up on photos... I am aware it is now mid-April. MID-APRIL?!?!? AH!)

And of course, when I say "I", I really mean "I" plus many little hands. (But you knew that already...)

Some things I really enjoy doing and kinda/sorta HATE handing over. Starting seeds is one of those things. So I saved some to do after the kids went to bed.

Their favorite part is watching the pellets swell.


It's like magic. (And okay. I think so too.)



When you let children help you have to deal with the fact that seedlings are going to miss the pellets more often that not. You definitely can't be a perfectionist (which I have tendencies toward--so I often bite my lip.)

Their joy far outweighs a few spilled seeds.


I started lots of flowers from seed this year. I still plan on going to the greenhouse (often! What can I say, I LOVE that place!) but just won't need to buy as much.

After all, I HAD the seeds thanks to a little flower faerie from the land of Blogdom. (thanks again, Michelle!)


I also started plenty of tomatoes and plenty of peppers though not many pepper plants are coming up yet so I may need to do another batch of those. I always wonder if I ought to do more and then find out I did WAY too many.

Still, I may do a few more tomatoes JUST to be safe. ;-)


AND I am happy to report: the basil seeds I harvested from my plants last year shot up faster than lightening! I am thrilled. Oh, to have fresh basil again!

Finally~ a few warm days found me waking up my winterbeds and getting them dressed for spring. It was lovely to be playing in the dirt without sweating like mad! And the beds are prepped and ready!
I planted snow peas, lettuce, carrots and australian brown onions in the garden. Call me dumb but I never knew you could start anything but peas this early. But hey, that is what happens when you teach yourself these things. You make LOTS of mistakes.

Borrowed from the library The Week by Week Vegetable Gardener just long enough to sneak a peak into it and WOW-what a GREAT resource! Now I really want it for my own. My birthday IS coming up.... winky wink.

Anyone else starting their dirt digging yet?