Every year for as long as I can remember, I bought seeds and started to plant them to get an early start on those that needed a longer season to grow. We have a large plant nursery only a few minutes from where I live but being on a tight budget when I first started gardening made me conscious of spending my money wisely. I must confess that I enjoyed seeing the seeds sprouting and seeing the miracle of growing plants blooming with a little care.
I get more satisfaction from doing it myself and I can read about how every variety behaves and I make my choice accordingly. Seeds used to be very cheap but not anymore.
There is over $133. worth of seeds on the table. Hard to believe how expensive seeds are but if I was to buy the plants, it would be so much more.
In January, I look through the seed catalogs and I make my selection then in March I take my selection to our local Feed and Need store and gave them my order and in a few days, I got my seed order shipped from Vesey's Seeds for free. I got a call that my order is ready and I just went to pick them up at Feed and Needs and paid for them. I love this arrangement. My favorite seed catalog is Vesey's Seeds from PEI.
Many years ago, my husband George made me a grow light stand. I have it in my basement and I also have a grow mat that I use to keep some seedlings that need heat to sprout. I have to turn my lights on in the morning before I go to the barn and I turn them off at night before going to bed. I can put a timer on but I like to go check up on how they are doing.
So far I only have Geraniums growing but I planted my begonia seeds yesterday... My geranium are getting their second sets of leaves but I didn't take photos, but I have 11 seedlings growing.
My new scrappy rug using leftover small pieces of wool from other projects.
I've been hooking a chairpad as a challenge from our hooking group on Rug Hooking Daily, an online forum for fibre artists and I'm using little pieces of leftover wool from other hooking projects. Our group is called GREAT STASH DEWORMING MARATHON and we're always having so much fun. The worms I refer to are thin strips of wool that we use to hook with as seen on my new worm holder.
As you can see I took out several rows of hoops to make his neck slimmer. This is George the Rooster, by the way... I'm debating on changing some too bright colors or over dying them. I'm just having fun with this. I can do that later if I decide to do it. As you can tell, not too much effort and thoughts went into designing the feathers.
The turquoise color you see on the breast feathers come from a piece of wool I marbelized not long ago. You can see it drying on the left. It's always fun to find a use for a strange piece of marbelized wool. I had no idea what I would use it for as I was experimenting marbelizing for the first time
Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment. Have a great weekend and stay safe.
Julia
I get more satisfaction from doing it myself and I can read about how every variety behaves and I make my choice accordingly. Seeds used to be very cheap but not anymore.
There is over $133. worth of seeds on the table. Hard to believe how expensive seeds are but if I was to buy the plants, it would be so much more.
In January, I look through the seed catalogs and I make my selection then in March I take my selection to our local Feed and Need store and gave them my order and in a few days, I got my seed order shipped from Vesey's Seeds for free. I got a call that my order is ready and I just went to pick them up at Feed and Needs and paid for them. I love this arrangement. My favorite seed catalog is Vesey's Seeds from PEI.
Many years ago, my husband George made me a grow light stand. I have it in my basement and I also have a grow mat that I use to keep some seedlings that need heat to sprout. I have to turn my lights on in the morning before I go to the barn and I turn them off at night before going to bed. I can put a timer on but I like to go check up on how they are doing.
So far I only have Geraniums growing but I planted my begonia seeds yesterday... My geranium are getting their second sets of leaves but I didn't take photos, but I have 11 seedlings growing.
My new scrappy rug using leftover small pieces of wool from other projects.
I've been hooking a chairpad as a challenge from our hooking group on Rug Hooking Daily, an online forum for fibre artists and I'm using little pieces of leftover wool from other hooking projects. Our group is called GREAT STASH DEWORMING MARATHON and we're always having so much fun. The worms I refer to are thin strips of wool that we use to hook with as seen on my new worm holder.
As you can see I took out several rows of hoops to make his neck slimmer. This is George the Rooster, by the way... I'm debating on changing some too bright colors or over dying them. I'm just having fun with this. I can do that later if I decide to do it. As you can tell, not too much effort and thoughts went into designing the feathers.
The turquoise color you see on the breast feathers come from a piece of wool I marbelized not long ago. You can see it drying on the left. It's always fun to find a use for a strange piece of marbelized wool. I had no idea what I would use it for as I was experimenting marbelizing for the first time
Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment. Have a great weekend and stay safe.
Julia
I am drooling over the seeds....I'm also flabbergasted! Good night that's a lot of money.
ReplyDeleteGood for you for growing your own.
Your hooking project is delightful, I am amazed at your talent for drawing something then putting colors to it. Truly talented my friend.
I love that you start your seeds I have in the past but not much anymore not sure why.
ReplyDeleteLove your very pretty rooster he looks very proud of what you have done for him.
cathy
ps your rack is working out great.
Your rooster is magnificent! Very regal looking for sure.
ReplyDeleteI love your new wool stand for your wool, and I really like seeing your hooking project. That is an awesome rooster.
ReplyDeleteYour seeds are wonderful. I haven't bought one seed yet. You have such a green thumb. I did work all day until just a few minutes ago chopping weeds down the driveway and getting the kitchen garden area all cleaned. I don't know if I will be able to pull a loop later or not. I am so glad you are gardening and hooking. It makes me so happy Julia.
What a beautiful (or should I say handsome) rooster! You and Kim make the most beautiful rugs! Have fun with your seeds! My sister does what you do, but I buy what I need from Jim's cousin's greenhouse. It's close by and inexpensive. (and I'm lazy!!) :)
ReplyDeleteLoving that rooster! Did you draw it yourself? Love your gardening stories! Our yard/gardens are a huge mess after two years of ignoring due to hubby’s illness and the bathroom remodel. So I’m ready for it to warm up a little bit so I can start cleaning things up!
ReplyDeleteChar
Yes Char, I drew the rooster myself. I draw all my own designs. I start with a rough sketch and fine tune it as I go. I look at pictures of things I want to draw to get a rough idea and go from there.
DeleteI want to build a greenhouse to get an early start in spring and also to grow greens in winter.
ReplyDeleteWe spend a lot of time looking at seed catalogs too.
R
Hi Julia! George the Rooster is looking so handsome! I would leave those colors in there until you get some background hooked. Colors always change when they are next to another color.
ReplyDeleteStarting plants from seed is always so much fun! Keeps the mind focused on warmer temps and sunshine! :-) Happy Spring to ya'! :-)
Our seeds give me hope for better weather.
ReplyDeleteLove your hooking set up.
Hi Julia, years ago my mum would buy a load of seeds to use in the garden. It’s an interesting topic to have. It definitely is informative. I had no idea there was so much in in. I wish i’d taken more interest in what my mum was doing. The new design of a rooster you’ve made looks very impressive and I can’t wait to see what the finished article looks like. Keep up the good work. I’m learning all about things I didn’t know much about but it’s great to read all about them.
DeleteI love the rooster. Have you tried harvesting seeds after the flowers die off the plant? I do and I replant them when it warms up a bit. I live in Phoenix, AZ and some of the plants can't tolerate cold. I've plant some saved seeds already and they are doing well. I just throw the seeds right into the flower bed and by now I know which are weeds and which are the flowers.
ReplyDeleteHoly cow I never knew seeds were so expensive. I just buy the plant and let it take care of it's self. I prefer a perennial because they just keep coming back but some of my annuals reseed themselves so I guess what I"m trying to say here is, my garden probably will never look as wonderful and as organized as yours haha.
ReplyDeleteYour rug is coming along nicely, and I love what you named your rooster. I have a son named George. You are truly an amazing woman and I look up to you in so many ways!!
Have a great Sunday Julia
Saimi
Hi Julia,
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness!! I had NO IDEA seeds were SO EXPENSIVE, since I am not a gardener, nor to I have a green thumb, but I KNOW YOU DO!!! I'm sure you will enjoy each and every plant that grows and look forward to seeing them in a future post!!! I always admire those who can grow things and wish I had that talent!
Your rooster is just wonderful and that stand is really coming in handy, too!! So happy to see you hooking something!! Your marbled wool is so pretty, too!!
Hope you have a wonderful week, a Happy Spring, and a Blessed Easter, my friend!
Heart Hugs~
Julie
hi Julia, i love your Rooster chair pad! love the colors and looks to me like a lot of thought went into the feathers!! i actually am working on a chicken chair pad and she is one color! not much thought there! just coffee stained some gold wool for the back ground, i just needed to tone it down some but wanted it to look like she was sitting in straw. love your noodle rack! my parents sold their garden store about 12 years ago. i always loved the young seedlings and transplanting them into there own pot. then watching them grow til it was time to go to a new home. i dont do any here at home and have cut down alot on what i plant. will see what this year brings though! it will be fun seeing yours grow! enjoy your day Julia!!
ReplyDeleteI am going to start seeds this week. I agree, the miracle of that little seed coming up. It really is special.
ReplyDeleteI find it so amazing that little bean seed becomes a plant that gives us food to eat and many times over.
Fun post, Julia, Thank You!
Ooh, your cockrel is LOVELY!!! He's looking so handsome so far!!! I love seeing your rug process. Do you have any videos of you doing a bit?
ReplyDeleteWHOA, the seeds are expensive- so much money!!!! I bet they make a wondrous display though!!!xx
Hi dear Kezzie, no, I don't have any videos of me hooking rugs. I'm a kind of a lone wolf when it comes to hooking. I never thought of making a video of myself pulling hoops with my hook. I'm not that techie yet.
DeleteI miss those seed-starting years! I never tired of the magic, from large seeds that produced sturdy seedlings to seeds so tiny I used the tip of a pencil so place them on top of the soil. We, too, used plant lights. We bought a 4-level galvanized steel stand and filled it with trays. My gardening days are over, but I'm happy that my son carries on the tradition, and in fact has expanded it from one very large garden to three! Oh, and something else we have in common: I love dyeing, especially over-dyeing and marbleizing. You've created a great blog, Julia. xo
ReplyDeleteJulia, you are so smart...from planting your own seeds to drawing your patterns to rug hooking...All you do with such talent. I love that rooster; he's so majestic....I hope you have a blessed Easter...
ReplyDeleteI've never started seeds but I do love looking at the catalogs! I go and get the plants and I love watching how they mature over the summer. I may start my own seeds one of these days, perhaps when I retire and can take more time. I know your gardens are so pretty and when I see your hooking projects I understand why because you are so artistic! I love your rooster! You don't have to change anything! I hope you have a wonderful Easter! Take care!
ReplyDeleteIt is so much fun to plant seeds, watch them sprout and grow. You have such a green thumb sweet Julia and it won't be long before you will have such beauty and colors around your place. I LOVE that rooster...so colorful and you are just so talented. Hugs
ReplyDeleteJulia! I didn't know you were still blogging. Somehow your posts are not coming across on my blog feed. I sent you an email. I hope you get it.
ReplyDeleteGosh, I am so happy to hear from you!
That's one gorgeous rooster! I know you will get a lot of fun watching the plants grow from all those seeds!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun visit to see what you have been up to. Love your rooster, I'm fond of roosters as I was born in the Chinese year of the rooster & have always been a morning person. He's looking great Julia & your wool holder is stunning, I've never seen one before.
ReplyDeleteI was at our garden club meeting this month & the public libraries are now offering free seed, you plan & after it has gone to seed you take some back. If they don't have the seeds you're looking for they will make inquiries to other libraries doing the seed exchange, just like requesting a book. I think this is going to become popular throughout New Brunswick. Miramichi & Doaktown are doing it & I'm sure Fredericton is too. I don't have a growing light to start my seeds but the sunporch is warming up with the afternoon sun, soon I'll start some free seeds from the garden club. The price of everything just keeps rising so free is great! There's so much snow here at the shore, winds have created high drifts as tall as me! You have such a green thumb & a lovely garden every year that has inspired mine here.
A couple more weeks & maybe spring will be sprug!
Take care Julia.
Hugs,
Cynthia
I like your rugs and this one is going to be beautiful, I love it already with the colours and the cockerel. Seeds seem very expensive for you, in the UK we can get them cheaply in supermarkets and also seedlings and border ready, we are very lucky. I have bought dahlia tubers this year on the advice of an elderly man in the supermarket who said at about one pound (UK) per plant I couldn't go wrong - I will plant them when the rain stops, if it ever does!
ReplyDeleteWow! Your rooster chair pad is gorgeous! I love his feathers and the way you dyed the wool . . . incredible!
ReplyDeleteI have my seeds but I don't have space for indoor sprouting. I might risk it and plant soon.
Your seeds look very tempting!
Julia, I am the worst with seeds. I either kill them with kindness or forget all about them, I always love your garden,hugs cheri
ReplyDelete