Don't You Just Hate It...

15 years ago

when total non-gardening types are impossibly successful despite their nonchalance?

Three weeks ago, my friend's sister planted out the usual alyssum, marigolds, and salvia she picked up at HD. I cautioned her that it may be too soon to plant out annuals in early April here, and she better watch out for late frosts.

Of course, her response was "They'll be fine. I just throw them in every year and they do great."

Meanwhile, I'm running around like a damn chicken taking tops on and off bottles, praying to St. Fiacre, and watching the weather every day to assure my babies are well protected and happy.

Today I stopped by to say hello, and don't you just know it? Her alyssum is a foot across and in glorious bloom, the salvia has spikes and the marigolds have buds.

I hate her.

Just kidding, just kidding. Life just isn't fair.

Prof

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Comments (13)

donn_
15 years ago
I see the opposite more often.

A non-gardener neighbor recently brought several flats of annuals home from the nursery, and because of the rain, set them on his bulkhead to wait for good weather.

They were all eaten by geese...every flower and most of the foliage.
pitimpinai
15 years ago
Prof, those store bought stuffs will peter out long before yours....let's hope...:-P
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diggerdee zone 6 CT
15 years ago
Prof, that drives me absolutely insane. There have been times when I've babied a plant, took tender loving care of it, researched it's needs and wants and given it it's every desire, and it's just kind of "eh" in my garden.

Then I'll go to someone's house and what's in their yard but that plant, looking full and glorious and magnificent... and I ask the person about it and THEY DON'T EVEN KNOWN WHAT IT IS!! LOL! They say something like, oh yeah, I saw it at the big box store and picked it up and just threw it there. It's nice, isn't it?

Grr....

:)
Dee
littleonefb
15 years ago
No need to hate it, as Donn said, when your WS seedlings are going into peak, those store bought are going to be done with their peak.

Then there will be the oohs and awes coming out on how beautiful your plants are and doing, How healthy they are, how long they bloom and all that good stuff.

You'll be blooming far into the fall, when the store bought ones are toast.

Trust, me. Been there, done that.

Fran
token28001
15 years ago
Store bought plants are already at their peak when they arrive. My wintersown plants are starting to bloom. They're nothing like the store bought ones. They're strong and will be blooming all summer.
v1rt
15 years ago
I knew it, it wasn't just me who had the same feeling or was thinking the same way. LOL. :D

I went to HD yesterday and saw tons of nice plants in full bloom. I kept asking my petunias when they're going to be in full bloom so I can hang them in my basket. But my visual memory of pitimpinai's petunia is giving me hope. Mone, what month did your petunias reach at least 10-12 inches?

I was also praying that the seeds labeled spring blooming will bloom all summer to late frost. LOL. :D

I sometimes feel guilty as well when I plant my wsown seedlings. I always tell my head, "hmmm, you haven't seen anything yet. Wait till you see what my garden's got." LOL!!! Hahaha!
pitimpinai
15 years ago
My seedlings don't look like much now either. But they'll be fine.
Ronneil, they always take off within two weeks! They reached that height in June --no more than 3 weeks after planting. They always look puny at first. Then they take off like shots. Just you wait! I usually get around to plant mine toward the end of May because I am usually busy planting other things after Mother's Day.

If you don't have much to do in the garden now, why don't you go haul some manure and spread it all over your beds? I went and got a van-full last weekend. Still sitting in buckets. :-D Will start spreading it this weekend.

Or you can come by for more plants. :-)
nancy_drew
15 years ago
Jeese... I need to have my reading glasses on to see most of my sprouts... well, the containers that HAVE sprouted!!

This is me with a serious case of zone envy!!
v1rt
15 years ago
Thanks Mone, I'll wait then. :)
Lisa_H OK
15 years ago
Meanwhile, I'm running around like a damn chicken taking tops on and off bottles, praying to St. Fiacre, and watching the weather every day to assure my babies are well protected and happy.

Prof: The best part of WS is learning to relax. These are tough plants, you don't need to fuss over them. Next year, I promise, you'll start looking at those babies and say, "don't even think about making me feel guilty, you will be fine." or better yet, "They'll be fine. I just throw them in every year and they do great."

Get those babies in the ground as soon as you can and keep them watered. (Although I gather that is not a problem at this particular time :) )
northerner_on
15 years ago
"Meanwhile, I'm running around like a damn chicken taking tops on and off bottles, praying to St. Fiacre, and watching the weather every day to assure my babies are well protected and happy."
Prof, this sentence had me laughing out loud. It reminded me of my past years Wsing. This year I'm so relaxed...just go out when I can, take the tops off when I can, and it all seems to work out. Last year, the slugs ate my petunias before I cold plant them out. They are the real miracles - they are so tiny you wouldn't think they'd grow so quickly and produce such wonderful blooms. I am really looking forward to this year. Happy gardening all!!!
stlgirl
15 years ago
Alright I am so happy to see several of you say the WS plants do so much better than those you can buy in full bloom right now. Before my wonderful discovery of WS I always brought home loads of blooming plants every spring from the various garden centers. It has been kind of hard for me to resist the urge to go buy something just to give my yard some color. Patience, not always my best virture.

-StLGirl
bakemom_gw
15 years ago
What Lisa said. Remember, gardening is one big experiment - who knows what is going to happen. Ditch the chicken stuff.

Don't You Just Hate It...

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donn_

pitimpinai

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