Seeds

Seed packets manage to seduce me in double quick time. I go to the Co-op for a pint of milk and before I know it I've also bought three packets of seeds. I go to the garden centre for some compost and I'm drawn to the racks of seed packets like a moth to light. I flutter helplessly in front of them all, mesmerised by the colours and the promise of it all. Its a bit like the magazine syndrome. I only have to see a packet of seeds and I immediately go off into a daydream, create my own magazine spread in my mind. I see a beautiful courtyard full of huge pots brimming over with colourful flowers, herbs and edibles, see myself sitting amongst it in the sunshine drinking coffee/tea/pimms depending on the time of day, idly doing a bit of deadheading or harvesting fresh salad leaves for my lunch/dinner.

 

I am such a daydreamer, I have never met anyone so disconnected with reality as myself (with perhaps the exception of my paternal Granny, who was scatty beyond belief). I somehow convince myself every year that by buying the seeds in March/April, I am actually going to end up with a maaarrrrrrrrrvelous garden full of flowers and produce. I forget that the packets of seeds sitting in a pretty blue bowl in my kitchen actually have to be planted and tended to. April and May come and go and the seeds continue to sit prettily in the kitchen. I look at them every day, think how pretty they all look, think to myself I really must get them planted. June arrives and suddenly a bit of mild panic sets in. Several packets of seeds are now no longer viable for summer of '08 as I've not planted them in time. But no matter, they will keep another year.

 

I get busy with the seeds that I can plant now in June. Aren't seeds an absolute marvel of nature? It never, ever fails to amaze me that these little unpromising bits if stuff will manage to know what to do and grow into plantlets. Produce flowers. They delight me, really they do.

I have my Little Buddy to help me. We plant yellow beans and purple beans, little fingers pushing the seeds down into the soil.

Nasturtiums and sunflowers next, grow, little seeds grow.
We go and check our seeds every morning, look hopefully for signs of growth. Water them and talk sweetly to them. Sing to them even. Grow little seeds, grow.

We have dreadful weather, wind and rain and cold, not summery at all. We continue to water, talk, sing and look. Then one morning when we are out in the yard in our pyjamas doing our early morning rounds, we spot little green shoots pushing through the soil. Little Lady (and Mummy) start clapping and jumping up and down. We are thrilled, honestly thrilled.

 

 There's nothing more promising than a little green seedling is there?

Comments

[Louise]

You and your under gardener make a very good team. I am always so in awe when the seedlings appear from under the compost, they really are little miracles. I am looking forward to seeing the fruits of your joint labour. x

[Lynn]

Hi, Lucy! I learned about your blog via Mrs. Magpie and am finding it so cheery and lovely! And yes, I suffer from Seed Mania too -- still have packets from 2002 crammed into a section of my fridge!

[Anna]

Ahhh, they are so seductive, seed packets aren't they? Alas, I am the same, even with the allotment AND a garden i still seem to open drawers and find random packets I had forgotten about..I have half packets, empty packets (the idea being that I will plant them and remember the variety if they were any good- I never do) and fit to bursting, desperate to get into some compost packets.
Great post. Glad they are growing for you-the nasturtiams are definitely a child pleaser!

[Alice C]

You are talking my language here. I found myself looking at my enchanting seed packets this morning and musing on how lovely the flowers would be when they grew. There was a nasty moment when I remembered that I hadn't sowed the seeds. Doh!

[Fi]

Just read your 'little lady and me' post. It did make me laugh when she told you that mummys could be changed at Marks and Spencer! I worked for M&S for 14 years up until we moved last year and yes I think I've exchanged just about everything for customers, but never a mummy! I've found a few for little people but never exchanged one! lol!

[Dragonfly]

I am a seed-a-holic too and I leave them too late too! And you're right, it always seems miraculous to see that tiny green shoot pushing up through the soil.

[French Knots]

The packets tempt us with lovely pictures and we are powerless to resist! Mine generally make it to bening planted out in the garden and then are eaten by slugs.

[simone]

I love the close ups of the seed packets, little helpers fingers prodding the soil and of the seedling popping through. I was too late with planting a lot of my seeds this year. Usually I am good at growing things but bad with the aftercare!