This is the time of year we seem to be heavily into "seediness".
We have just finished getting all the seed lots for the ARHS Seed Exchange cleaned, labelled and generally organized. The Exchange will be open in a couple of weeks and this years' list will be posted on our website.
Our "home" seeds were also in need of some updating. One task which always pains me is actually throwing out old seeds! My waste basket is full of seeds from our various collections that were deemed expendable.
Every year after the Rhododendron Seed Exchange, I try to get somebody to adopt some of the leftovers, but it never seems to be enough.
One thing about azalea and rhododendron seed is that they have quite a good shelf life , as long as they are cool and dry. Bill has sown seed that was several years old with good results.
Many types of perennial seed seem to have a shorter life span regardless of the storage conditions. Some, like Digitalis, seem to last quite a while.
Lilies, alliums and the like really need to be sown quite fresh.
We have a few seed requests from people across the province and country, so I really should get those packaged up and sent out in the next day or two.
This has been the coldest day of the winter( -17C), but of course that will change in the next few hours.
The New Year has come in with a mixture of benign and wintry weather. As usual, Monday gave us a mixed bag of rain and eventually quite a lot of snow. The mild temperatures lowered considerably, so this snow will likely be with us for a few more days. These views are towards the back arbor and out the front door.
We have been contemplating "de-Christmasing" the house, but haven't done so yet. Our tree has been very pretty and has held its needles very well. It seems so dull after its demise.
Laziness seems to be the order of these days after Christmas. I did finally bake my Linzer cookies yesterday. They turned out quite nicely. A double chocolate cookie with a raspberry/ chocolate filling.
Another unscheduled job turned into a bit of a purge and reorganization of our pantry cupboard. Awful lurkings can sometimes happen. Ian and Gina had given us a wonderful culinary selection of goodies, so in order to find space something needed to happen.
Bill seemed to have the seed starting spirit and started a few rhododendron seed selections.
There isn't much gardening going on these days. We do have a lovely Amaryllis which is pushing forth two flower stalks. It is to be an interesting dark burgundy color.
Our Christmas centre piece has lasted remarkably well....almost to the point where I am getting a bit tired of it!
