daffodils are blooming

So, I failed slightly at sticking with one new skill per year. In the last month I took up soap making and chocolate making. I justified it of course, by the honey-buns called me on it. So, I have let those go, despite selling about 10 bars of soap out of approx 12 made. But I will refine it at a later point in life.

We will be getting another load of soil on Friday, so it will be a big planting day. And I have come to the realization that, for now, I suck at seed starting. I am not sure what I am doing wrong. I think I put them out early because they have inadequate light inside. But they aren't big enough to handle the cold, so they die. We will have to buy pretty much all of our plants at the garden center. I am not happy about it, but I will keep this in mind for next year, and try to correct it. I also think that I, quite possibly, started things too early and set them up to fail.

Anyway, recent plant purchases include:
-a Columbine (with the Rocky Mountain coloring) as a tribute to home
-a rabbiteye blueberry bush
-a mystery strawberry plant with the flower growing on its own stalk about 4 inches off the ground
-2 jalapeno plants
-a bell pepper plant
-cilantro, thyme, rosemary, oregano
-a red snacking grape

Recent sowings include: some climbing nasturtiums by the bleeding hearts, lavender along the back fence, dill in the asparagus plots, corn, curcurbits and beans in the half of the corn bed that has dirt, and chamomile in the cabbage bed.

Zen got ahold of some cantaloupe seeds (and radish too, apparently) and the same seeds I am struggling to keep alive are sprouting by the tens through the cracks in the patio. And I am finding radishes everywhere.

The narcissus and the daffodils are blooming, which according to old wives tale means it is time to plant the corn. Surprisingly I have been seeing corn in garden areas at Wal-Mart, Lowe's, etc. I have never seen corn in these settings before. I know that on Friday or Saturday I will be going on a slight shopping spree, to plant all the beds that will be full at that point.

Happy planting and lots of sunshine to you!!!