I figured since everyone else in the world was talking about the Corona virus (or COVID 19), I wouldn’t!  How’s that for a change?  I will say that after a long, gray, dreary winter, this self-imposed social distancing is not helping my cabin fever at all!

And, although it is officially Spring, I haven’t felt much like getting out in the yard – mostly because it has rained nearly every day.  If it hasn’t rained, it’s been cool, with a stiff breeze, cloudy and gray and – did I say this already – DREARY!  Not to mention very, very muddy.  I’m getting pretty doggone impatient for Mother Nature to wake up and get going.

Planting Foxglove

So, today I spread out old newspapers, brought out my seed starting flats and did what I should have done a week ago.  I planted foxglove seeds. It felt good to breathe in the scent of soil and to get my hands dirty. The foxglove seeds are so tiny. I couldn’t plant them precisely. So, I scattered them over the seed starting flat and hoped for the best. Last year, the foxglove seedlings did very well, surviving being transplanted to the garden and stayed green all this winter – the photo was taken just a few days ago.

I set the flat on top of a heating mat. It heats the bottom of the flat very gently, encouraging germination.  Once those seeds germinate (see how optimistic I am?), I’ll move the flat to underneath grow lights (really just LED shop lights) and position the lights as closely as possible to the seedlings.  If the baby seedlings don’t have to stretch to get light, they won’t be as pale and spindly.

I have three more seed starting flats. I plan to use those to start parsley and dill. There will be some for us and some to share with swallowtail butterfly caterpillars, who will feed on them.  Maybe some cilantro and possibly some leaf lettuce too.  I grow most  herbs in pots on the top deck. It’s very handy to harvest a handful of herbs just four steps from the kitchen sink.  The leaf lettuce will definitely have to stay up on the deck. This should keep it from being eaten by varmints (unless deer and rabbits have learned to climb!).

Basil, chives, oregano and thyme can grow in the raised bed since deer and rabbits don’t seem to care for them.

As for the corona virus, take care of yourselves, stay at home, wash your hands, do something positive to keep your spirits up (like plant seeds) and most especially keep in touch with friends and family by phone or the internet and always tell them how much you love them.

Stay Green (and Healthy) Good Friends.