different starts

Things are still exciting round here because there's almost always something new popping up each time I head to the greenhouse. I still fawn over my dahlia's and petunias and lobelias, but there are lots of new things coming in. Also, there are only a few aphids - one here... one there... Definitely not in my hair, so that urge to scratch my scalp has thankfully subsided.

I'm pretty excited about this little guy. He's the first of our luffas. Yep. That's a "loo-fah." Or it's going to be a luffa. I was hesitant to tack these guys on the list of seeds to order, but I'm glad I got talked into it. It'll be fun to see what they do, and if it works out, I think home-grown luffa sponges will make a great gift... Now, if only I could get lavendar to grow - I could make a great bathtime basket as a present!

Now, I have yet to be talked into being excited about the guy in the following picture. I'm a huge fan of yellow summer squash (which we've got a few of), but this little guy is going to grow into a spaghetti squash. I've forgotten what kind because neither of the pictures in the catalogue looked especially tasty to me. I seriously doubt the handyman is going to want to eat them, but he said he had to grow some... and here they come! (we've probably got three or four coming up. Maybe I can trade the extras for more zukes... or maybe I should hold my horses and at least try the spaghetti squash before I pass such harsh judgement.)

This next picture reminds me of some kind of organic heart. It was the sweetest of the sweet peas - we've got eckford's and senators. I can't remember which one is which color, but I didn't take any last year and spent all summer being jealous of the handyman's sweet peas. His didn't flower much, but when they did, they were gorgeous - pink ones and white ones and candystriped ones. Hopefully we'll get some more blooms this year - any suggestions on how to do that, anyone?



These last guys are my starts du jour. Last year I started mostly larger seeds that got tucked safely in soil - zukes, pumpkins, sunflowers. This year I've had a lot of little seeds that get tossed right on top and I haven't had a lot of faith (doesn't come in the package). When I followed the instructions and simply "pressed" the hollyhocks seeds on top of the soil, I thought for sure this was ridiculous. I waited days and days and still thought, "they're never going to make it." Then there was one... and another... and now there are twelve hollyhocks all thriving! These are perennials, and I've prepared myself for a year without flowers, but I know next year they are going to be beautiful. Faith restored...