Super secret seed stash
Saturday, January 19, 2008 A few weeks ago when I was rearranging space to store seasonal stuff (a frequently-repeated task when you live in a small apartment with no storage), at the back corner of the top shelf of a hard-to-reach, seldom-used kitchen cupboard (there are too many of these when you are less than 5 feet 4 inches tall), behind the electric fan, flashlight, old batteries, plumb line and wallpaper roller, I found this tin, which I was sure contained an assortment of kitchen hardware:
To my surprise (which later turned to a bit of worry about my memory lapse) I opened it to find this:
A collection of seed packets, evidence of annual Spring Garden Fever going back to 1995.
So why blog about this. For a few reasons:
(1) This year, I MUST schedule sowing dates on the calendar. And then NOT PROCRASTINATE. I confess many of these packages were never opened. I'm in strong favour of being more spontaneous and living in the moment -- but a bit more discipline and time-sensitivity is necessary when you're growing a garden.
(2) Just like judging a book by its cover, I know I bought a few varieties because of the pretty pictures on the packages. Through experiences (ie., poor germination) I've learned the ones that come in the plain brown wrapper (West Coast Seeds ) are the best.
(3) I'm a pretty ruthless declutterer but I will always find a box, drawer or scrapbook for used seed packages -- for purely sentimental reasons. As I sorted through the tin's contents, I recalled sowing perennials and herbs the first summer my parents lived in their Labelle Avenue home. My mom told my proudly she had done some weeding -- and to my horror I realized she had removed all the Aquileglia (Columbine) I had just planted.
(4) On a more serious note, I hope that twenty years from now, we will still live in a climate that will allow us to grow such a diverse variety of plants. Thinking about this strengthens my resolve to grow a low-impact garden, even if I have to forego my favourite plants. (This will be very hard.)
Reader Comments (2)
I forgot that you're here now as well, and I left my comment on the other EBG. Er, which would you prefer?
Hello, Tess. I loved your comment on my other site.
So true -- when we handle things we feel like we're being somewhat productive, even if we really aren't getting to the true objective, in this case, getting the seeds in the soil.
I'm now off to Hollyfields at Granville Island to pick up my 2008 West Coast Seeds catalogue. If I recall, it has a great planting calendar.
Feel free to comment wherever you prefer. If you do like the other blog better, I'll keep both going. I value your opinion.