It’s been a crazy gardening time. Yes, I have been gardening. Last week, in between the monsoon days here in Chester County, PA I got digging.

Yes digging, as in planting. Just little shrubs. From Mr.Maple and they arrived in perfect condition. Hopefully they make it fine through the winter and I don’t see why they shouldn’t , but you never know.

No, the ground is not frozen yet, and I planted after last Tuesday’s storm. I also had to deal with freaking DEER. More spraying etc. as there are too damn many.

It felt good to get out and play in the dirt, however. And for once a tree that snapped in the storm was my neighbor’s woods.

I realized when I was planting my little intermedia witch hazel “Diane”, that I had planted another this past fall. Yes, I forgot.

I have been thinking about spring. So today I ordered my hot pepper seeds and herb seeds. I am trying new peppers this year. Plus I saved some seeds from peppers I liked that I grew this past year. I decided to try peppers from Seed Savers this year. They are a non-profit and I like their mission. These are the seed I ordered:

Agostino Reghitto Basil

Giant from Italy Parsley

Isle of Naxos Basil

Cyklon Pepper

Joe’s Long Cayenne Pepper

Black Hungarian Pepper

Georgia Flame Pepper

I don’t know what tomatoes we’re going to grow. That is my husband’s seed picking domain this year. He didn’t like the tomatoes I picked last year. All I know is he ordered from Harris Seeds.

I also ordered my seed starting supplies. Prices have gone up quite a bit. But while I am not good with all seeds, I love growing my peppers and tomatoes. It’s fun. Yes I end up giving away plants, which is easier than selling them since people are surprisingly cheap about actually paying for your sweat equity. I don’t mind sharing with my friends and family, but when you grow from seed, you produce a lot more than you can use, including friends and family.

So what do you do with the excess plants? This year I will try selling some of the excess again. I love giving away plants, but sometimes it would be nice to have a little extra gardening dough, you know?

Other than that I have said goodbye to two of my citrus trees. First up, I lost a grapefruit tree I started from seed and I broke the pot.

Next a Meyer lemon I bought from my neighbor’s son for a band fundraiser like 8 years ago. I loved it but once again, no matter what I did, I could never get rid of the scale. I cleaned it, repotted, fresh soil, and more and the scale just persisted. So I had to make an executive decision and she’s out with the trash. I have three other little citrus and my banana trees. I am contemplating getting rid of citrus trees all together. Obviously I’m not the climate and I’m half in the woods so it’s really hard to keep them alive during the winter.

The banana trees are doing very well so far this winter, but to be honest it’s hard keeping citrus happy in the winter so I am just doing my best. I did buy the tropicals a humidifier and plant light, however. And I am trying a new organic food I found called Earth Pods. It’s pre-measured and in these little capsules, you just push the little capsules into the soil.

This spring I can’t wait to be able to order plants that will be offered via Cavano’s Perennials from the Brandywine Cottage (TM) Collection. Yes, as is David Culp who has joined them in addition to all the marvelous things he does!

So that’s all I have for all of you right now. Sign me dreaming of spring…. And trying how to figure out where to place 24 amaryllis bulbs around the house once Christmas is finally all packed away.