MARCH 11, 2009

Perhaps it’s wishful thinking or maybe it’s because St. Paddy’s day is just around the corner, either way I have been noticing a lot of green lately. Green makes me hopeful – of the warm weather to come, the days growing longer, new life peeking through and Saturday morning farmer’s market. I am so looking forward to planting my first balcony garden this spring. I was very diligently in picking out flowers that like part sun and shade and that would not grow too tall- it was a very difficult. All the varieties made me want to go purchase a plot of land and sprinkle wild flowers seeds all over; as a comprise for now I might go volunteer here this summer. So here is my line-up: cherry tomatoes, marigolds, impatiens, dianthus, pansies, and impatiens. Each morning I have checked on my mini green house that I planted on Sunday – I know, I know, most of the packets said it would take 7-14 days for the seeds to germinate but I just have to check. Much to my surprise, my marigolds have already sprouted! I was thrilled and took lots of pictures of my first sprouts, but now I am worried. Why did they sprout so early? I have kept them out of direct sunlight just like the instructions said, but maybe they still receive too much sun? Is the apartment too warm? It said to keep the box in a warm location but maybe its too hot and it sped up the process? (Keep in mind, I spent 20 minutes trying to find the perfect place that is out of direct sunlight but warm, not super easy in the middle of Arctic-like temperatures (maybe not exactly Arctic). So we’ll see what happens to my little sprouts.

I have been thinking about my grandma, Mimi, a lot lately. She was an avid gardener. She and my grandpa spent countless hours in their garden – pulling weeds, mulching, pruning and watering. I have loads of memories from that garden – we spent the best summer evening on their porch eating watermelon, chasing fireflies and playing in their garden. I am looking forward to connecting with my grandma this spring and summer, as I take care of my much smaller balcony garden. And I know, if I were to call her and tell her about my seeds sprouting early, she would say ” just wait and see. It’s probably more than fine.” So I’m going to do just that.

Me, in Mimi and Pawpaw’s garden, circa 1990.