Cabin Fever is real.....People!

CABIN FEVER

irritability, listlessness, and similar symptoms resulting from long confinement or isolation indoors during the winter.

The above photos were taken this afternoon and the photo below was taken February 23rd. of  last year.

Poppy Fever

Last Summer I was bitten by the Poppy Bug.....and as a result, I ended up catching Poppy Fever!

If there is such a thing?

Here are a few of the Poppies and their seed sources, I plan on adding to my garden.

Fruit Punch photo source: swallowtailgardenseeds

Beauty of Livermere photo source: swallowtailgardenseeds

Danish Flag photo source :swallowtailgardenseeds.com

Pink Fringe Full Pom Pom  photo source: Shelley*

Scarlet Peony photo source: onestoppoppyshoppe.com 

Red & White Taffeta photo source:onestoppoppyshoppe.com

and.....That's not all!

• I also saved seed from my everblooming Tangerine Spanish Poppies
• Unknown Red Poppy seeds from my mother's garden 

along with unknown seeds a friend saved from her garden in shades of

• light pink
•  pink
• light purple
• purple 
• burgandy

13 different Poppies! 

What was I thinking???

Well, here's to adding more color to the garden this year!

Tokajer

photo source: https://www.swallowtailgardenseeds.com

Tokajer Gaillardia aka Blanket Flower

Started this variety of Gaillardia from seed last week and they are already proving to be little Rock Stars! The seedlings emerged within a couple of days and are coming up strong! I'm looking forward to these beauties in the garden and I think the bees will love them too!

Can you feel it?

Find your Persephone Days Here

As of February 10th. the duration of daylight hours here in my neck of the woods has finally passed above 10hrs. 

While the daylight hours grow longer, I am noticing the changes in the growth of my starts... 

They can feel it too and benefit from the extra light hours.

Learn More about Persephone days here 

Little sprouts

It's mid-February and my little greenhouse is still well buried amidst the snow.

No heat in the greenhouse means we have to fire up the grow lights in the house to get a jump on the growing season. 

The Peppers, Petunias, Pansy, Viola and Onion were started mid-January 

A few lettuce varieties and spinach were started early to see what we could grow in the house for an early harvest with many more successions planned.

The onions starts are looking great and have come up good and strong this year.

 The Pansy and Petunias are taking their sweet little time and are supplemented by the heat mat

Tomatoes, Eggplant, Kale, Chinese Lantern, Gaillardia and more lettuce seeds were all started yesterday. 

We are full steam ahead and the growing season has began!

Seed line up for 2017

Gearing up for the 2017 growing season, I have finally put together my seed list.

Some varieties are tried and true and among my favorites to grow, while other will be new to me and my garden and might be a push for a short growing season.

Drum roll......

🍃BEANS

• BlueLake 274 53 days
• Royal Burgundy  55 days*new to the Beanstalk
• Gold Crop 56 days*new to the Beanstalk
• 
  
• Tongue of Fire 60 days

🍃BEET

• Chioggia 55-65 days

🍃BROCCOLI

• Green Goliath 60-90 days
• Waltham 29 85 days

🍃BRUSSEL SPROUTS

• Long Island Improved 80-115 days *new to the Beanstalk

🍃CABBAGE

• Brunswick 85 days*new to the  Beanstalk
• Golden Acre  58 days
• January King 3  90-120days
• Pak Choi 30-45 days*new to the Beanstalk

🍃CARROT

• Tendersweet 75 days

🍃CAULIFLOWER

• Sicilian Violet  68 days

🍃CORN

• Honey Select 79 days*new to the Beanstalk

🍃CUCUMBERS

• Boston Pickling 52 days
• Homemade Pickles 54 days

🍃EGGPLANT

• Shooting Stars 57days*new to the Beanstalk

🍃KALE

• Scarlet Kale   55 days  
• Dinosaur Kale 70 days

🍃LETTUCE

• Tom Thumb 47 days 
• Four Seasons 65 days
• Forellenschluess

🍃MACHE'

• Verte D'etampes

🍃ONION

• Ailsa Craig 105days

🍃PEAS

• Early Frosty Pea 60 days

🍃PEPPER

• Tam Jalapeno 70 days*new to the Beanstalk

🍃PUMPKIN

• Casper 90-95 days*new to the Beanstalk
• Squash Dickinson Pumpkin 100 days *new to the Beanstalk

🍃RADISH

• Cherry belle 24 days

🍃SQUASH

• Bush Zucchini 45 days

🍃SPINACH

• Monstrueux de Viroflay 28-50 days

🍃TOMATO

• Paul Robeson 90 days*new to the Beanstalk
• Rutgers 73 days 
• Pink Bumble Bee  60-70 days*new to the Beanstalk
• Black Vernissage 75 days*new to  the Beanstalk

🍃WATERMELON

• Dixie Queen*new to the Beanstalk

Fixer upper

 This adorable little house has only been on the market for a couple months. Would make the perfect first time home for two little love birds looking to establish roots in North Idaho and start a family :-)

Collapsed!

So much snow this winter....The old grape arbor just couldn't withstand the pressure anymore!

It finally gave way yesterday afternoon after the last big snowfall.

Looks like a new Spring project will be underway!