Wordless Wednesday & Happy Leap Year day, too! @ Wall Flower Studio

Tuesday Tips - Storing Seeds @ Wall Flower Studio

Tuesday's Tip! (I'll try to offer a new one every week !)

Here's a little trick for storing those saved seeds, especially if you have a lot of one variety. A big clear glass jar is very useful to hold them.
I take a photo of the flower, which represents the seed, and pop it into the container.

I like to write the variety on the back of the photo too, that way, the jar isn’t marked up and can be used for something else down the road.
It's easy to spot the photo on the shelf from across the room, which saves a lot of time looking, take it from me, especially when, like most of you out there, I'm gearing up to plant a lot of seeds soon! Spring is just around the corner. Enjoy your week.

Happy Gardening : )

Starting #Seeds @ Wall Flower Studio

Newspaper pots. These are great for starting seeds. Ink is vegetable based, so not harmful to soil, and it keeps the paper out of landfil by recyling it!

Eggshells are the perfect natural way to start seeds. Lots of calcium will go back into the soil when they break down. The cartons can be composted, too!
Have you tried CowPots? They are terrific. Actually made from compressed cow manure. I love the concept of recycling manure and using it to start seeds. They break down very well into the soil and provides nutrients, too!
I've started some herb seeds. Likely a bit early, but I'm eager for Spring! Dill, Cilantro, Thyme, and several types of Basil.

Here's a selection of seeds saved from last year. All kinds of herbs, veggies, flowers, clematis, and even hostas.

I've also made more seed balls. Gotta love "Guerrilla Gardening! Throw & Grow! Drop or chuck them where you'd like drought tolerant flowers to grow. They really work. Seed Balls are their own little ecosystem.

So, we had a ton of snow fall last night. Old Man Winter is still strutting his stuff, here in Haliburton County, Ontario. I guess it's good therapy for me to play amongst the seeds, envisioning Spring, which will eventually make it's way to my garden, and your's too!

Happy Spring (almost), everyone!

Seed Sorting and Packaging @ Wall Flower Studio

Citron Melon Seeds, among others. Lots of herb & heirloom flower seeds, too! I grow, harvest and package everything by hand. It's a labour of love.

My seed packets, as well as all handmade organic bath products are available at The Art Hive, here in Haliburton, Ontario.

Early Wonder Beet Seeds. Very easy to grow. Tasty, too!

Christmas Lima Beans. Yummy! Pretty colour, too.

Well, I imagine I'm not the only one gearing up for the season....Now if only that damn snow would melt! Happy Gardening, everyone : )

Houseplants enjoy a sunny day, just like us!

Everyone is enjoying the sunlight!
I moved some plants to the south sunny window to catch some rays. The begonia leaf looked so pretty, backlit like this, kind of like stained glass, that I couldn't resist snapping a picture. A couple of months ago, I thought this wee plant was dead, but here it is, once again full of life. Glad I didn't pitch it out! ; )
Was so nice to have the sun streaming through the windows. I enjoyed it as much as the plants!
Have a good week!

Nature's Internal Clock

Dahlia Tubers sprouting
Purple Heirloom Potatoes sprouting
Isn't Nature amazing. No matter how old I get, I still marvel at the fact that without any prodding or manipulation from me, things that are meant to grow, just do. The only thing I've offered the potatoes and dahlias are a cool dry place to spend the winter, and here they are, showing, what my ego might describe as, a bit of gratitude, by providing this coming year's potential for growth with those pretty sprouts.
The fact is, Nature just does it, with or without our help. A good example of that would be the fact that I never use fertillizer. Not in my garden, or with houseplants. With the exception of worm castings, coffee grounds, egg shells, and other forms of organic compost, the plants still thrive.
Such an exciting time of year. We're getting closer to the growing season here in Haliburton. The Dahlias and Potatoes have told me it's so!
Have a good weekend!

February Blahs... Blah, blah, blah

Okay, I'm really ready for Spring. Can someone let Mother Nature know this, please?!

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All of you gardeners out there will relate, (or anyone at all who prefers warmth and sunshine to frigid temps & monochromatic scenery), but especially people with plots still snow covered like mine. But it is worth the wait, isn't it? The good new is, inevitably the wheel keeps turning.

Anyhow, that's likely why I have been neglectful of my blog of late. I can post many pictures of the snow banks growing outside my door, but it's not really the same.

But, happily, it's seed starting season, which to me is the most wonderful time of the year.

Will follow up with a post and some pictures of those seedlings soon.

In the meantime, keep warm my friends!