What Lies Beneath…

I am nearly going insane with spring fever.  The weather this winter has been a confusing mix of unusually warm and utterly freezing cold.  All of my bulbs are starting to emerge, which is making me crazy to get in the garden, and I’ve been pruning and fussing around all my little tender plants that are starting to come back up.

It’s maddening because it is too early to be gardening.  So I’m reading You Grow Girl, which is actually a great book for savvy chicks who like to get dirty and the website is pretty awesome too.

At Home Depot and Lowes, the garden center sections are pretty much closed off, and when you walk into them, there is a tepid supply of seeds and some leftover plants from the fall.  I think my biological garden clock is off because it is seed starting time, people, there should be ridiculous amounts of veggie and flower seeds strewn all over the place by avid planters like me, but all that awaits me are two cardboard displays with ugly Burpee seed packets that boast totally boring varietals.  Having worked in a garden center for 5 years and growing up with a horticulturist for a dad, I usually know exactly what I want when I walk into a garden center.  I am infuriated by lame employees who know nothing of the plants they are selling.  I get irrationally pissed when I ask a question about seeds and get a blank stare. 

I purchased all my seeds for seed starting as of today.  Some are in the mail on their way, and some were found in the local garden shop Yarrow Acres in downtown Franklin.  I will expound on that at a later date, but today I basked in the loveliness that was President’s Day.  Bulbs are emerging, the garden is laid out and a plan is down on paper…and also in the yard, laid out with bamboo. 

I am so excited for spring.  In March, Cheekwood will have a daffodil show on March 23-24.  I am so excited.  I’ve been to this a couple of times and each time, I am stunned by the beauty and variety of the flowers.  I’ve noticed in my yard that several patches of daffodils were planted by the previous owners…in the shade…so none of the leaves have blooms amongst them.  I might try relocating the bulbs to a sunnier spot to see if that helps.

For now I have to be content to wait knowing that the payoff will be big.  If I start too early, I’ll screw my little plants and cause them to struggle unnecessarily.  Only a couple more weeks and the planting can begin!!!