Another Wacky Idea

 Yes folks, it's Spring again and that means my romantic notion of getting a jump start on the garden and growing my own plants from seeds is becoming a reality...I hope.
I found some nice peat pots in a set of 40 for $2, and gathered some good potting soil, some old Rubbermaid bins, of which I have zillions, and decided that these would work as reusable hot houses or seed starters, at the very least.
Most of the seeds would work if I direct sowed them in the ground, but I change my mind about where to put them pretty often, or forget what I planted where, or sowed them too early and then lose them to a late frost, or some other good reason to start them in pots. We're dealing with plant romance on the brain here.

Here's what I planted so far. Hyacinth bean, a climbing vine with which I have had a modicum of success on the east side of the house and would prefer to have a TREMENDO success on the west side of the garden this year. I have seen them flourish in Chattanooga, and wonder why not here? So I am trying again.

If they don't work, I am planting old fashioned climbing sweet peas in the the same spot. I like the fact that these could be cut flowers, and make adorable little nosegays. Again with the romance.

Then Empress of India nasturtiums which I KNOW will grow, but I want to plant them in a more formal arrangement, so I have to know they have sprouted. They don't transplant well, so as soon as they have second leaves, in the ground they go.

I seem to have forgotten my promise that I wouldn't try to duplicate my Illinois garden here in Tennessee, so again  I am trying to get larkspur to flourish, and hopefully reseed, and make me dread the day I planted them. Once they are in the garden, you can't have a larkspur-free spot. Except here, so far. Same goes for the cleome, which can be invasive, leggy and take over. If only. I will NOT plant morning glories. Ever. Again.

If you haven't tried annual poppies, you are missing a great flower. Shirley poppies (don't call me Shirley) have a zillion petals and grow tall and are cutable. Their stems and leaves are the nicest gray green. The seed pods are just like the perennial variety, and will self seed the minute your back is turned. Hopefully.

My favorite and the last one I really really want to work is Blue Bedder Salvia which the package said is a perennial. ha! They are beautiful and blue when the garden is in deep need of blue, later in the season.

I am leaving these two sets of seed-starting bins on the patio, unless it gets really cold at night. I can easily bring them into the adjacent studio, if it does. I'll keep you updated on the progress. Only 4 more weeks until the last frost date. Woowoo!