Bygone Gardens

I went to the garden center early yesterday morning so I could be the first one there. I was there before the workers showed up.  I wanted to buy more seed starters and I ended up buying 25 more packets of seeds.  I'm so ashamed but I think I will get over it. I have no time for shame, I have seeds to plant! I was the only person in the store!


For some reason, this year I've spent a lot of time thinking about my father's garden when I was a little girl. That man loved to garden.  I can remember almost every plant and exactly where they were planted.  I even remember my little brother crying when my father accidentally burned up our bleeding hearts. He built a fire too close to them.  Anyway, I decided that this year I am going to plant as many of the plants from my childhood garden as I can find. So, besides coming home with all of those seeds, I came home with three pussy willow plants. Two of the pussy willows are black!  Perfect for the witch garden.


The third pussy willow is a type we are all familiar with.


Though I am starting a bunch of these from seed, I bought some bulbs for a quick fix.  I even found black daylilies! 


I found a nice forsythia too.  For years we took our family Easter photo in front of my dad's flowering forsythia. I am not going to replicate his orchard because I don't have enough sun for fruit trees.  And, living in the city, I don't want every bird visiting me.
 

This is a pic of some of my geraniums I overwintered in my garage.  I trimmed them down to about 5 inches before I placed them inside and I've watered them 3 times since last fall and they have grown like crazy.  I don't think I will have to buy any geraniums this year.

This is one of my grow areas.  I made this out of metal shelves and florescent work shop lights.  Very inexpensive and very efficient.  

My seed organizing area.


Some are already large enough to be transplanted into larger pots.


I power washed these recently thinking I would paint them but I've decided to use them as is. Have you started your spring gardening yet? Can you remember your childhood garden?



 

Comments

Megs said…
Seeds are my addiction, and I keep buying them, especially violas, forget me nots and sweet peas, though they have a very short season here. Your garden sounds great
I love those containers, and your seed set-up.
Mary Bolton said…
It was Spring in New York State, my husband was deployed and I was feeling very Blue! A trip to the garden center coinsided with a delivery of holly bushes, many paletts long. In the middle of this long row of holly, there was an odd stalk of something. I investigated, read the tag and laughed out loud. "Willow, French Pussy"
It came home with me.
You are a bit ahead of me :-) :-) Well I have started and I've realized that I must use my cool cellar and perhaps put down a radiator to make it a bit warmer.

We had a summer cottage when I grew up and hardly anything survived there, even potatoes died :-) :-) I remember by grandparents (on my mother's side) garden. My grandpa loved straight lines and order in the flower beds, my grandma didn't so everywhere in his straight lines she planted all kinds of different flowers :-) :-) :-) He didn't dare saying anything :-) :-) :-) I'm very much like my grandma (or mormor as we say)

Have a great day!

Christer.
Leanna said…
Oh my! Garden porn. Sooooo good!
JustGail said…
So far buying some seeds is as far as I've gotten. It's on the calendar to start putting some in the pots next week, as I don't put anything out in the ground until at least May 15. After a few days in the 60s last week, the 3(?) inches of snow yesterday is hard to face. At least it's above freezing instead of getting really cold again though.
Bee Haven Bev said…
I am eager to see the end result of your gardening. Your gardens are always lovely!! And that garden shed is the crowning glory this year!!
You are a serious gardener! I love bleeding hearts. My Rare One grows them in her Serenity Garden.
I like the pots as they are. Last year's seeds will be used this year. I bought a forsythia and loved it. One year, I cut numbers stems and poked them in the ground, about 10 stems for every forsythia I wanted. I made sure to go out on a spring day when it had rained. It was very easy to poke the stems in the ground, the easiest gardening I have ever done.
Unknown said…
Ah so you get your love of gardening from your father. That's nice. Sadly I don't garden, but I'll enjoy everyone's lovely garden photos. Glad you're not painting those pots, they have the perfect amount of patina.
Leanne said…
Now Joyce, every witch needs a black cat... pussy willow I am sure is as close as you will get.
Love Leanne
PS it's nearly AUTUMN here.
Susan said…
I remember the rose garden most vividly - because it was right outside of my bedroom window! In the summer, breezes would bring the beautiful scents into my room. However, I have never been very successful with roses, so I just rely on my memories.
Kathryn said…
In NJ growing up my Italian Nono has lovely pussy willows and vast gardens.
I reside in FL now and now PW here....
Kathryn said…
This is a test for me.....anywhoo I love your blog OF.
Kay said…
I'm always so impressed with your garden and all the vegetables and flowers that grow for you.
Helen said…
A morning walk before school was something I did in my mom's garden especially in spring when things were changing so quickly.