Getting started

seed starts, week one

Two weeks ago today I had a couple wisdom teeth pulled and while I lay dozing with a gauze filled mouth, my husband sat beside the bed with seed trays and planted the first seed starts for our garden. He's been so eager to get our garden going this year; he began buying seeds back in December. Since then we have amassed quite a collection of vegetable and flower seeds.

seed starts, week two

Currently he has started seeds for everything from kohlrabi to strawberries to snapdragons and cockscomb. The trays are on a wire rack in a south facing window waiting for their turn outside.

kale, cilantro, and onions in the background

collards

Without a proper winter I am baffled that it's really time for spring. But the robins are busy, our fruit trees are showing tiny green and pink tips, the yellow petals are slowly unfolding on the forsythia, the daffodils are blooming, and even a few dandelions have been spotted. Our kale, spinach, cilantro, and collards wintered over. And now I am about to gather a handful of kale and collards to make for soup tonight. This recipe by Amy Chaplin for creamy cauliflower soup with greens is very good. I made it once in January, except without the dill.

But before I go, one goal I want to consider over the growing season is this: I want to be more observant. While I have always been an observer, sometimes in my daily life I get busy in the doing and by the end of the day I'm like, uh, what happened? So I would like to take notice of what is growing in the garden, be a little more aware of the changes and growth, and in turn hopefully be more appreciative.