Growing Things: Even more updates

A few days ago, I noticed that there were indeed a few little growing things in my small pots! Almost entirely chives, though, and only one basil. Still no lavender anywhere, which is a bummer. Also I spent all day today clearing leaves and transplanting raspberries. I even dug some of the berry plants up and potted them to give to friends. 'Cause I have a zillion. That's barely an exaggeration. There are some other little seedlings that are popping up in the kitchen window that I'm dying to take a picture of, but I'm waiting for the lighting to be perfect. It's the cutest little egg-carton-herb-window-box thing. You'll see.

I'm going to be busy getting the apartment ready for Will and my move-in date, which is sometime next week after the plumber comes. But after that there will be sewing curtains and planting container gardens and convincing Will we need a comfy daybed more than we need a breakfast nook. I know, a nook sounds adorable, but really the set-up is a pain in the butt. Out with you, breakfast nook! I will have a place to curl up and read, you cannot stop me! Besides, he overrode my sectional dreams for a svelte-and-sleek if not cozy black leathery futon thing. Now it's my turn to override his breakfast nook aspirations in exchange for my cozy daybed. <- This is love, guys... just plotting to get your way and then rationalizing it afterwards.

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Green and Growing Things: An Update

As you can see in the above picture, my arugula is growing nicely. In fact, it's so dense that I have a hard time watering it. However, this is almost the only good news I have about my plants.

The other good news is that chives sprouted in my big pot of herbs earlier last week, and the basil is finally poking its head out, too. But that's it. No lavender, and no herbs of any kind in the smaller pots. So of course I planted an egg carton full of basil and chives, and then lots of little plastic pot sets with lavender. Because if I can't succeed the first time, maybe I can the second. I think the trouble the first time around was that I was terrified of over-watering them, and so they were consequently under-watered. (If that's even a word.) In any case, they were very dry. But when I started covering them with plastic and giving them a good drench now and then, the chives popped up. So who knows.

Chives! And basil! IT'S ALIIIIIIIVE! However, no lavender showing in the bottom right.

It's becoming clear that while I wasn't blessed with the same sort of green thumb as my Dad was, some things can thrive under my care. Like salad greens. And the spider plants I repotted - those have lots of new deep green growth on them! And it was my loving care that got them there. You know, or something.

Also, since we haven't figured out where we're living yet, I haven't gotten to plant anything outside except pansies, for my mother. They're very pretty, but I want to grow things that I can eat, you know?

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my arugula is sprouting! my arugula is sprouting!

I know it's been a plant-filled week for me on here, but...

My arugula is sprouting! It's beyond incredible! Also, because none of my herbs are sprouting, I am putting all my little hopes and dreams into this fantastic, peppery salad green. I don't even care that there's still snow on the ground or that my golden retriever knocked over one of my aloe plants so that he could eat the dirt it was planted in, my arugula is ALIIIIIIIVE.

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Planting!

Today, I decided to plant some seeds! This is the first time I've ever planted from seeds, so I'm pretty nervous. I picked out some herbs to plant some together in one big pot, as well as in separate little pots - so that I can give them to my momma and a couple friends. I picked out chives, basil and lavender. So now I just have to wait and see if anything grows!

I also planted some arugula seeds. I bought one of those big trays with the pellets that expand once they're soaked in water - super duper handy. Assuming it works and my arugula actually grows, I mean. If you ever use one of these, pay attention and use warm water, as cold takes forever to make the pellets expand. FOREVER. But now the tray cover is on, and it's getting all greenhouse-y in there, and I'm supposed to leave the cover on until I start to see some seedlings. I'm very excited.

I picked up a couple cheap plants to put into my old fishbowl, because it was just laying around collecting dust. Terrarium, hooray! I actually don't have very high hopes for the terrarium, 'cause the roots were much looser on these two plants than I'm used to, so I'm sure I've mangled it somehow when I was planting them. But who knows. I picked out pretty plants, and I hope they live. I don't even know what they're called - I'm probably the worst gardener ever.

I made cute little flags for all the herb pots so that I can remember which one is which. My main pot is big and separated into three sections, and is also pretty and can sit in my window. I made these up as back-up and extras give to my momma. I'm really hoping that at least some of them grow. Are you seeing the theme? Plant and pray, plant and pray. Please please please, don't die on me, little plants!

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Plant update!

My plants are still living! Even though we have quite a bit more snow and not much warmth.

Also, in the exciting news category, I am now the proud own of a Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet. (hence the doodling on the image.) I'm totally digging this tablet. The S Pen is wicked cool, plus I love everything on the go. So awesome. Also, tomorrow i'm going to be planting some seeds! Exciting things are happening, so clearly y'all should stay tuned.

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springing forward

I decided that my plants were looking extra sad, as it was clear they suffered in my absence. They needed things... New soil! Bigger pots! More sun! These are things I can provide for my poor little greenlings.

I repotted the spider and aloe plants my sister-in-law gave me as a graduation present. They're doing yoga stretches in their bigger, better pots. Hooray! Success! Please, don't go into transplant shock on me!

As I was packing up the soil, though, I realized I wanted little greenlings raised to greatness by my own manicured hands. And so it begins: will the new spider plants live? Can the cuttings from my father's 50 year old jade plant survive? Only time will tell.

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