Saturday, February 8, 2014

Gardening fantasy?


Mexico Midgets, seed from Seed Savers Exchange (Photo from Seed Savers online shop)

I suspected my husband was going to be rather surprised at my online expenditures on seeds for our spring veggie patch. I know I was surprised when I finally added up my total.

Somehow I had forgotten that step. I remembered only after all my purchases had arrived in the mail from the three online retailers where my search for specific seeds was successful.

I had succumbed to fantasies of fresh lettuces, tomatoes, squash and other goodies marching in lush and tasty array from our garden to our dinner plates. The work to start some of the seeds, to sow others, to transplant seedlings, to weed, weed, weed, and to pick and wash the produce was not part of my fantasy.

I also blissfully ignored the reality that our available sunny garden space is miniscule. There is no way that we have the sunny space or the stamina to deal with nearly $40.00 worth of seeds in a single season. 

And only Mexico Midget was a variety we had experienced growing. It was our favorite of four cherry and currant tomato plants we planted last year.

Yesterday after I started this post, I ’fessed up about my online shopping. Husband Walter already knew. I had forgotten that he checks our credit card accounts almost daily.

“What farmer are you going to hire to deal with all those seeds,” he queried.  I presented my case: We would have spent that much on four trips to the movies providing we went for the less expensive matinee.

“But we don’t go to the movies and you didn’t factor in gas, popcorn and Coke,” he fired back.

“Exactly,” I replied. “We don’t go to the movies, so I am counting the seed purchases as entertainment.”

And entertainment it was. I had spent quite a few hours during the recent icy weather salivating over enticing photos of vegetables, reading descriptions full of promise, making selections, and savoring the prospect of getting grubby from working in the garden plot.

Garden fun--The little tomatoes of dime-sized diameter are Mexico Midgets, a favorite from our 2013 summer garden.

Hubby was a good sport. How good was he?

- He engaged in discussion about the veggies he wanted most to see in our garden this spring. I love gardening conversations;
- Later, on a quick shopping stop for other items, I picked up one of those little nine-pack trays of red sails lettuce. He just paid and said not a negative word;
- Then he planted them for me;
- He covered the baby lettuces for two below-freezing nights; AND
Even though he had cautioned me about the unfavorable weather forecast, he hasn’t said “I told you so” a single time. . . yet.

Now that is being a good sport.

12 comments:

  1. He is indeed a good sport and a great hubby.. i wonder how he would be if he were married to me, the one who was reading a tutorial on a photography class, saw the word click HERE to see lens that was used, it flipped me to Amazon where i have set up the ONE CLICK purchase. my mouse flew to the one click and 4 days later the 100.00 lens appeared in the mail box. Bob did get a heads up. as soon as i clicked the one click i went in the living room, stood in front of the big screen TV to make sure he was listening and said Hey, i just cliched on One click purchase on a 100.00 lens...his answer? you are blocking the screen..

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  2. PS forgot to say i have lots and lots of fantasy's none of which involve veggies or gardening.. to each his/her own... also I ALMOST but did NOT click on 38 dollar face powder

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  3. And remember that gardening is cheaper than therapy. Also you get tomatoes from it.

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  4. Fun post. Methinks perhaps the Seed Savers is the one I visited each spring near Decorah, Iowa. I loved seeds with a history (being a history teacher myself). One of my favorites was Arikera green beans originally from the tribe of the same name in North Dakota. I always imagined Lewis and Clark eating them as well...;)

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  5. Oh to have the weather to enjoy gardening again. Make the most of it when it comes.
    Blessings
    www.freda.org.uk

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  6. Who can really blame us for want fresh from the garden food this time of year? I understand you fantasy totally. I wish it were possible for me to plant anything. The ground is frozen here. And, we can't have gardens because of the wild life.

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  7. Good thing our husbands understand the need to grow little green things. I too was busy today planning the summer annuals. What fun!!

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  8. Those tiny tomatoes look lovely. I like to put them in a corn salad with lime juice dressing. Very colorful.

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  9. He is a real winner, but you are going to have to figure out how to do these on your own. I did see some really great raised beds when we were in washington last. Standing height. Why can't they be really small and seated height. :)

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  10. I got all excited, just reading your post about purchasing seeds and gardening :) I've been shopping for seeds, too. The seeds are expensive, but the end result is SO worth it :) (we usually buy the heirloom variety)

    Remember, if you don't use all of your seeds, this year, you can store them in the freezer in a zip lock bag. I'm currently growing cabbage, lettuce, and tomatoes from seeds that are two years old.

    Wishing you and Walter lots of fun and luck with your gardening endeavors :)

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  11. What a cute post. I like your comebacks and that your hubby ended up being a good sport about it. Especially the fact that he planted for you and didn't utter the dreaded "I told you so" about the weather. :)

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  12. Fresh veggies and an angel of a husband....perfect combination.
    You will have the best garden around and lots of "fun" going through the process.
    Love your posts Linda.

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