Entry bubble Think Spring! Time to Buy Seeds for your Garden

By: Joanne | February 19, 2008 | Category: Home and Family

Last week I injured my back (again) shoveling the snow. When will it end? It seems like these injuries only make me intent on spending more time with my face in the garden catalogs. I’ve already selected 5 different types of sunflowers and still need some more—perhaps a Jerusalem artichoke? You see, I like some diversity in my garden. I don’t design with great architectural precision in mind; I like to see lush diversity.flowers, potatoes, and carrots fresh from the garden

To that end, I stay away from the seed packets found in most stores. I don’t like the commercial hybrids because I think they’re overbred to make them bigger or prettier or pesticide resistant. I like heirloom seeds. I think plants are really just fine the way mother nature made them. It’s been my experience that heirloom seeds are vigorous, taste wonderful and will often go to seed and come back as volunteers next year. I really don’t even have to buy tomato plants any more—they just spring up!

I’m always on the lookout for interesting varieties and I was happy to see that the Department of Agriculture offers a list of sources for all types of plants and seeds. What’s your favorite garden catalog? I’ve got lots of work to do this summer!

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Entry bubble I Dream of Sunflowers

By: Joanne | February 05, 2008 | Category: Home and Family

Each February I tire of clouds and ice and snow, and I long for warmth and sunshine and lush green leaves everywhere. But Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, and it looks like I’m in for 6 more weeks of dreaming of my garden. Lately I can’t stop thinking of sunflowers. I can’t wait to plant sunflowers – and not just the big, tall yellow ones. I’ll plant the yellow polyheads, the velvety maroons, the vibrant oranges and the supermanes. I’ve got the space and I’m always looking for a new variety to plant. What’s your favorite?

Joanne standing in her garden surrounded by sunflowers

There are lots of different kind of sunflowers, just like there are so many varieties of apples and tomatoes and lettuce. We’re used to seeing the few varieties found in the grocery store or in the seed packages in the stores, but there’s really an amazing variety of garden plants out there. I like to do my little part to support biodiversity on this planet, and sunflowers are such a fun way to pitch in.

I found this nice quote attributed to Helen Keller: “Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. It's what sunflowers do.”

| View Comments [5] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: biodiversity   flower   garden   joanne   sunflower