I'm growing a garden for the squirrels...

or so they think. I have never, ever, had a problem with the squirrels in the neighborhood. I don't know what it is this year. As soon as my seedlings poke their leaves through the soil, the squirrels just help themselves. And I mean, to everything. I'm lucky enough if they don't eat the whole stem and maybe leave a leaf or two so that the plant can recover. It's so sad. You literally spend hours staring at the soil, waiting for the seeds to emerge. They finally make their triumphant appearance, and the next day when you go to check on how much they've grown...nothing. Or worse, the squirrels leave behind a little bitty stem so you can see where your plant would have been. I already had to buy two more seed packets of Cosmos and Zinnias this year because they've eaten so many. I was standing over my garden this afternoon, seriously considering scattering store bought lettuce all over my garden in hopes that they'd choose to munch on that instead. They'd probably just round up their friends and tell them they hit the jackpot though.

A gourd day...

I woke up yesterday, made a cup of tea, and headed outside for my usual seedling scouting rounds. The Dill was getting taller, my Thyme still isn't growing past the cotyledon stage, and the Sweet Peas and Morning Glories were about ready to be transplanted. And....a Birdhouse Gourd seed had finally sprouted! So, for my first seedling, the germination time was about 16 days. And there's another one right behind it. I planted about 15 seeds, and so far I think I might get about three out of it. Not too good, but enough to grow some gourds I hope!



Another new plant that I am trying to grow from seed this year is Pennisetum glaucum, Ornamental Millet 'Purple Majesty Hybrid'. It is an annual ornamental grass that has deep maroon/purple leaves with reddish veins. It grows to about 4 feet high, and three feet wide. I used to think ornamental grass was tacky. I recently took a class on herbaceous plants, and was required to learn about them. I still didn't like them much. Then, I was scouring the TV Guide for garden shows to record, and found one from P. Allen Smith called Garden Design. He showed how you can combine ornamental grasses with annuals to create a colorful backdrop and added texture. All of a sudden, grasses became functional to me. While I still don't like them by themselves, I think I may have discovered a use for them that works for me. I planted some a few days ago in the corners of the yard, and behind my zinnia border. I also started a new cosmos border in the front yard, so I put a few in the back of that as well. Because I don't know if I'll be able to ID the little seedling, I planted one in a pot by itself so I could see what it looks like. So far, that's the only one that's come up so far, but I'm sure the others will be right behind it. I'm not going to go dig them up though. I think grass pretty much knows how to grow.


Here's a pic of my lil' Dill, and one of my Sweet Pea seedlings that I'm hoping to train up the trellis I got at the dollar store.

The labor of my fruits...

A neighbor of my mother-in-law grew these birdhouse gourds two summers ago. It took over a whole side of her yard, climbed up the telephone pole, and out over the road on the phone lines. They are known to be aggressive growers. I've been warned about this, but it's actually what I want to happen. I need something to cover up the badly peeling paint on the garage of the house we rent. I want that old clothesline to have a purpose. Gourds suspended in the air of my backyard is my crazy goal of the summer.


This all started one night two weeks ago, when I was cleaning out the laundry room. I came across the gourd that was given to us two years ago. As I picked it up, it rattled like a maraca. The seeds had all dried out inside, and it was ready to be made into a birdhouse. After testing out the sound quality (I was home alone) and debating whether or not I should sacrifice my new maraca for a birdhouse, I decided to cut it open. Out poured about 75 strangely shaped white seeds, which I quickly searched online to see if they were viable to plant. After discovering that only brown seeds will grow, I started to work on my new birdhouse.



I filed the hole I cut out in front with sandpaper, and it actually looked good. I then sanded the whole outside, and wiped it down. I dug my husband's acrylic paints out of the cabinet, and tried my luck mixing paint for the color I had in mind. It turned out fluorescent green. At this point, I figured that would be the base coat. While it was drying, I grabbed the flashlight and ventured outside to find the perfect perch in the dark. I cut a few branches off of the dying peach tree, and brought them inside. My husband had since come home from watching Ironman at the theater with his brother, so I recruited his art school skills to mix the color I wanted. He did it first shot, and after we put the final coat on, sprayed it with lacquer and drilled drainage holes in the bottom, this is what we ended up with. If all goes well, we will have a yard full of these next year!

I've done it again...

I love starting plants from seed. It's so much more gratifying knowing that you are the reason those little guys made it out of the seed packet, and into their proper home. I've learned to plant only as much as I need because when it comes time to thin the seeds out, I just don't have the heart to do it. I've learned to shield them from the squirrels that love to dig for little seed treasures in pots I've placed all over the back yard. I've learned that I can turn my backyard into a butterfly haven for the cost of four packs of zinna seeds. What I haven't learned is to trust them.

I find myself digging up the seeds I've sown, year after year. Why? To see if they've started growing yet. The germination chart on the back of my birdhouse gourd seeds estimate 14-21 days to germination. I planted them 9 days ago. But I've done it again. I've already dug them up three times. I've searched the garden forums for others in the same position as myself. My seeds just won't germinate. I've resorted to covering the pots with plastic wrap to warm up the soil temperature. Maybe they're too cold. Maybe I did something wrong. Maybe they just won't germinate at all. What I have to remind myself year after year is....maybe you just need to wait the 14-21 days for them to germinate. And they will. Because that's what they do.