The seed doesn't fall far from the plant

I'm now teaching my daughter about gardening, but it goes back at least three generations from her. Here's a 1989 photo of my Grandad, my mother's father, in his small garden in Warrington, England.

Warrington, England

Warrington, England

My paternal grandfather grew prize-winning gladiolas in Maplewood, Minnesota.

Seeds, baby!

Emma and I ordered a bunch of seeds from Select Seeds. She was so excited to pick ones she wanted to grow. It was hard to get her to narrow down the choices, so we got a lot! They include three varieties of zinnia, which I've never liked, but they are good easy plants for kids.

Here's what we got:

• California Poppy 'Alba' (Jennie)
• Cornflower 'Classic Romantic' (Emma)
• Larkspur 'Giant Imperial' (Jennie)
• Pepper 'Shishito' (Emma)
• Poppy 'Lauren's Grape' Organic (Jennie)
• Sweet Pea 'April in Paris' (Jennie)
• Zinnia 'Benary's Giant Carmine' (Emma)
• Zinnia 'Benary's Giant Lilac' (Emma)
• Zinnia 'Raspberry Limeade' (Emma)

When they arrived, I tasked her with taping photos of the flowers to the seed packets, mostly just as a way for her to engage with the seeds before we get to plant them (sneaky parenting). I have to say I love how much info about the plants was on the seed packets.

I also ordered four packets of seeds from Gardens North, and these are a lot more mysterious. Take Allium obliquum, whose packet states "this species sometimes germinates at warm. Sow and keep warm and at high humidity for 2 weeks. If there has been no germination, place at cold for 6-8 weeks before returning to warm." Okayyy.

Digitalis lutea (small yellow foxglove) has the following instructions, which are straightforward enough: "Press into moist mix and keep warm (20C) and at high humidity until germination (within 2 weeks or less)."

But then there are Actaea rubra (red baneberry)'s instructions: "This is a multi-cycle germinator. Best to sow directly where it is to grow, or place pots outdoors over winter. Germination will not occur until the second year, so do not disturb area. Cover with leaf mould to ensure consistency moisture." Germination in the 2nd year?! Definitely did not see that coming from what was on the website:

Gypsophila repens rosea (creeping baby's breath)'s instructions: "Surface sow onto moist soil-less mix and keep at 20C and high humidity until germination (within 4 weeks or less)."

Last note: a couple weeks ago I was at the dump/recycling depot, and was amused by this ENORMOUS PILE of discarded Christmas trees. This is how you know the holidays are REALLY over.

Plants to, um, plant: backyard renovation edition

The time has arrived to start thinking of what to do with the back yard as a whole, as we will need to deal with the collapsing retaining walls, plus we are no longer contending with unemployment-prompted austerity measures.

To begin, here are some planting ideas.

Assuming that I will have a flower plot in the partially shaded realm of the patio as now:

• From current plot:
• Lungwort!
• Digitalis grandiflora
• Artemesia
• Perennial forget-me-nots
• Dead nettles
• New options:
• Actaea rubra (Pink) (seeds ordered from Gardensnorth.com) (height unknown)
• Digitalis lutea (seeds ordered from Gardensnorth.com) (24")
• Primula denticulata (8-12")
• Thalictrum flavum glaucum (3-6')
• Trollius (globeflower; blooms in summer; not deer resistant)
• × cultorum ‘Alabaster’(23-27")
• New Moon (24")
• Phlox divaricata, (woodland phlox; 18", blooms in spring)
• Primula (primrose; 6-12"; blooms in spring). Not deer resistant though.

For under the trees: 

• FERNS FERNS FERNS

Here's one garden expert's recommendation for a mosaic of shade-loving ground cover that looks good throughout a season (https://awaytogarden.com/best-phlox-gardeners-butterflies-mt-cubas-george-coombs/):

The plant pairings for Phlox stolonifera that work really well are foamflower, which is Tiarella cordifolia, Pennsylvania sedge, which is Carex pensylvanica, and then maidenhair fern, which is Adiantum. Together those are just a really nice, they all put on a great show in the spring time with a fresh flush of either foliage or flowers. Then the ferns and the Carex really carry you through the rest of the year with a textural interest too.

For along the fence:

• Sweet peas