tienle... Kasper's on the right track - nice going for a Viola newbie :) Sow seeds of any hardy violet in winter and allow them to be damp and cold, preferably sub-zero, for a couple of months. For most species that will break dormancy, though sometimes the seeds may have been put into deeper dormancy which will require longer to break. In the natural cycle of things that would mean another year, but in the fridge it should just mean being patient for a few more months! Protect the sown seeds from heavy rain and vermin. If you sow thme in the fridge, look in on them now and then, and move them into a cold greenhouse or frame as soon as germination starts. If, however, they spend some time trying to grow in the dark of the fridge, and have become tall and thin and pale as a result, move them out into the cold frame just the same and with a bit of luck they should green-up and survive. In the cold frame, keep them in good light, preferably not too one-sided (else thin seedlings may topple over), but out of direct sunlight. Use sterlized seed compost or sterile tissue paper to sow them in/on. That will help reduce the chance of the seedlings being killed by damping off (fungal disease).

I contacted Huntwood in Kent myself. Their number is 253-872-9911. My contractor mentioned his contact is out of the Spokane area and from the Kent places website it takes you to the main Huntwood site so I think they are the same. My contractor is looking for a closer place for us to look and I found the Kent number myself. I left them a message yesterday since the hours aren't listed. I will post if I find out anything further. When we order it will be through the contractor but I will do the legwork myself just to be sure its a good deal. Acorn is expensive, I am not even really checking them out but they have a great reputation so the cabinets must be really nice. I grew up around there too so that could be why I have heard of them often.

Flyleft, if you haven't been to the San Juan Islands and have more time to kill (not sure how long the camp is) then maybe even a day trip on the ferry from Anacortes is worth checking out. Taking a car is expensive and a hassle, with LONG waits, etc. But you can walk on easily, much cheaper. Just the ferry ride is worth the trip to Friday Harbor. Friday Harbor is really crowded in the summer...I wouldn't want to stay there, but always go far from town, but this late in the game I suspect you wouldn't get a reservation many places. But you can poke around Friday Harbor, LOTS of great galleries and shops (many artists live in the area) or get on a whale watching tour, by land or sea. It's a long day and you have to be sure to catch the last ferry back to Anacortes, but it really is paradise on the ferry through the islands. (Or you can get a whale watching tour from Anacortes I believe, by boat without taking the ferry). Most San Juan accommodations require a minimum stay in the summer, but if you want to spend the night, then look around for someplace that has a night between bookings, and you might get in. I'd only consider it if it's outside of Friday Harbor itself (but that's me...it's a charming town, but too bustley for my taste). Roche Harbor might be an option (also very charming, but just the hotel, with amazing history, some restaurants and LOTS of yachts and other boats - it's lovely, though-not a 4 star hotel though - and I think they have a van to pick you up in FH from the ferry. Oh, and there is some kind of walk on ferry from B'ham, too. I've never used it and doubt it would be the leisurely ride you'd get on the state ferry from Anacortes. But check it out... Here is a link that might be useful: Water transport to San Juans

I go to both of those malls all the time. During daylight hours, I don't feel unsafe at all (and I'm kind of a ninny when it comes to those kinds of things). Downtown Seattle is actually less safe. But yeah, if you feel unsafe, then you feel unsafe. I'm afraid at that point you may as well not do anything in that area. I'm honestly not snarking, but just mean that there are shootings happening just about anywhere, in any city. I remember being in Toronto when there was a mass shooting in their mall. Canada is very low on gun crime and this was in 2012, waaaaay before the pandemic sparked rising crime rates. But I digress. That second mall I mentioned -- The Landing in Renton. It's by Boeing field, and caters to the well paid employees that live and work there. It's a very different area from other parts of Renton. Or if you're willing to drive about 15 minutes, go to Bellevue Square Mall. Very posh and safe. It's a normal mall but a tiny bit more upscale (like, you're not going to find a Sears or JCP there). There's a great art museum right across the street and tons of restaurants. Just down the street from it is the verrry upscale Bravern Mall (think Barneys, etc). Just down the street in the other direction is "Old Bellevue". More quaint with smaller, more local shops and restaurants and stuff. Very pretty. If you walk to the end of that street you get a great view of Lake Washington. And there's a really nice park that's just between that area and the mall.