Alright, now that we’ve had a bit of winter, can we have spring? Actually, I’m quite happy with the snow and cold. What triggered the desire for springtime is receiving my seed catalogues and paging through them. I now have a rather severe case of the gardener’s disease that has as its primary symptom a desperate need to stick one’s fingers in some cool, moist dirt.
But the best I can do at this time of the year is make the seed orders and dream. I made the first order today, from a wonderful organization in Iowa called the Seed Savers Exchange. I used to be a listed member, i.e., a member that was listed in the annual directory as offering various seeds that I had saved. Going to college put a damper on that sort of activity. Anyway, I placed an order today. I think the most exciting thing I ordered was the Aunt Ruby’s German Green tomato.
It’s one of the best tasting tomatoes around. And I’ve tasted several dozen varieties, so I think I speak with some measure of authority. Though my authority pales compared to another member of SSE, also here in New York, who has tried over a thousand varieties. I think Erin is afraid that I will see this as my competition. Her fear is not entirely unfounded.
Erin’s favourite in the order is the Chinese forget-me-not.
We saw some lovely specimens in Cornell’s gardens last year, and so she wants to grow some of her own. (I’m trying my best to make working in dirt be an infectious activity.)
– Sydney
Alan Schmierer
Did anyone else think that Sydney’s post suggested he’s happy to resort to bribery? Show a girl some pretty flowers, associate them with romantic walks with her husband, and you get an enthusiastic garden assistant?
It might really work if Sydney’s gardening didn’t resemble large-scale farming. My gardening experience included digging post-holes for a fence of 2x4s in bone-chilling rain and sleet. Though I admit the garden looked lovely.
For the record, Sydney proposed to me at the beautiful Longwood Gardens in PA, not, I think, without the hope that tying such an experience to that place would make me eager to return in the future. He’s a sly one!
Erin