amazing

The awesome thing about J being an academic and having his own lab space is that he has a "soil" room with potting soil and fluorescent lights on a timer. Comes in VERY handy this time of year. Even though I understand the process of plant reproduction and development, putting a tiny little seed in some soil and watching a little green thing emerge is always exciting. That little bit of vibrant color against the brownness is kind of mind-blowing. What fabulous design! A little packet of nutrients swells up with a little bit of water, and voila! new life. See?

The problem with starting plants from seeds is that a packet comes with a gazillion seeds. Geez. we really only need 10 or so. I showed considerable restraint this year with the tomato seeds but we're still well-endowed. Funny thing is that we went and ordered three other kinds of tomatoes (heirloom varieties). Not sure what we were thinking there. Whatevs. Guess we'll have some to share if we run out of space. We're on track to have a whole bunch of basil plants too; if these grow like all the other basil I've ever tried to grow, then we should have enough for a batch of pesto and maybe a salad -- I've never had much luck with it.

Won't be long now before we hit the frost free date -- in go these little guys, plus seeds for patty pan squash, beans (green bush and edamame), maybe lemongrass.

The weather has been silly hot here this week. Like 80 abnormal degrees. You can't grow kale and radishes in that kind of heat! Fortunately, it's cooled a little today after a big storm blew through last night, so maybe our little plants have a fighting chance. Sure get why farmers pay so much attention to the weather.