Spring Fever

Or, to be more precise: Garden Fever.

Yesterday I took advantage of the lack of rain and wind (leaving it a partly sunny 53) and stopped by the Lamartine/Hubbard Street Community Garden (yes, I think we do need a catchier name) to pick up some seeds (carrots, cucumbers, acorn squash, basil, and spinach).

I could not help myself and succumbed to the temptation to play in the dirt (cashmere sweater and all - it survived). I grabbed the "garden claw" and stirred up the soil, waking up earthworms and ripping up weeds.

God, it was fun.

Rain, rain, go away!!!!!

Allendale Farm is opening up for the season today, and I'm going to drag Jon over there tomorrow to see what there is to be had. I usually start tomatoes and peppers from transplants, and if I don't see what I want, I may order them through Seed Savers Exchange.

I loved the little orange cheery-type tomatoes I got last year at the BNAN Spring Perennial Divide and Plan Sale. They were divine. But I am interested in some of the quicker producing, northern climate hardy plants offered by Seed Savers, such as the King of the North Pepper (red, sweet), Wisconsin Lakes Pepper (ditto), and the Stupice Tomato (smallish, red).

And to make the best use of my limited space, I want to go my plants as vertically as possible. So I've been looking at everything from the very basic bamboo stakes to the more elaborate Tomato Ladders and the esthetically pleasing Coil Plant Supports and the Rainbow Spiral Supports.

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!!!