Greetings to all members of the Society for the Preservation and Propagation of Old-Time Gardening Wisdom, Lore, and Superstition (SPPOTGWLS or “the Society”)
Following are the minutes of our last meeting in which there was a rousing debate amongst those members who regularly sow seeds and those members who generally do not sow seeds.
I, your self-proclaimed President of the SPPOTGWLS, did my best to keep order and prevent an outright melee from breaking out between the two groups, which I will refer to as the sowers and the non-sowers.
At issue was whether one group of gardeners was superior to the other because they sowed seeds and the others didn’t and vice versa.
I, your President for life, reminded everyone present that the revered gardener and garden writer, Elizabeth Lawrence, often wrote about having someone else who sowed the seeds sent to her from around the country and grew the seedlings on to be good sized plants that Elizabeth could then plant out in her garden. The seed sowers amongst the group were a bit taken aback by this, but seemded to understand that not everyone has a good indoor space for sowing seeds or even a spot in their garden suitable for directly sowing seeds.
I then reminded those who don’t sow seeds that seed sowers are not just vegetable growers who start their tomatoes inside from seed and then fuss over them for weeks on end, with frequent updates to anyone who will listen, until the last frost is past, and it safe to plant their carefully tended plants out in the garden where they will be further nurtured to produce the perfect tomato, the kind that would win first prize in any contest entered. No, that is not the case at all! Seed sowers also sow seeds for perennials, biennials, annuals, trees, really any seeds they can get their hands on.
Both sides were chastised to not fall into the trap of a haughtyculturist who thinks that his/her garden is better than anyone else’s and that their flowers are just a bit brighter and their vegetables just a bit tastier.
The meeting concluded with everyone agreeing that there is room in this great big gardening world for both those who sow and those who don’t sow and both sides will have respect for each other.
I, your President who discloses freely that I happen to enjoy sowing seeds, did make a final motion that if a gardener/Society member has never tried to sow a few seeds, that they try to do so at their next opportunity. There was a second to the motion and voting is now taking place. Members are asked to vote yeah or nay via the comments.
The meeting concluded with a reminder for all to make sure they had registered to win six packets of seeds from Botanical Interests before the deadline of July 31st, 5:00 PM EDT.
Minutes sown by your faithful president,
Carol, May Dreams Gardens
I vote yeah or yea or aye. Now I'll have to decide what to plant…but I know it will be some winter veggie!
What was the question? I vote do whatever makes you happy, but remember, a packet of seeds is cheap, free gift seeds are cheaper, but they don't do any good unless you sow them.
Love the haughtyculturist reference. Have known my share over the years. Makes me laugh!
Yes, try growing seeds. You can grow seeds on your windowsill just for decoration. In Don't Throw It, Grow It, they suggest sprouting beet seed for a Christmas centerpiece. The lovely seedling leaves are red and green.
I'd hate to have to limit myself in any direction. Planting a small garden all in one afternoon with seedlings is great fun, but so is watching your very own bean seeds sprout and start to climb their pole. Just as magical as Jack with his beanstalk.
Yes, growing from seeds is so much more "real". Yes, yes, yes for vegetable gardens. -Jackie
I have great admiration for those who start plants from seeds. I find that I can get things to sprout but then they often fail to thrive. My started from seed zinnias that I planed outside in the spring are still only about 4 inches tall and no sign of blooming. And don't even ask me about the garlic chives (which I have had seed itself into the garden but when I start them and then transplant them, they still have only about 2 leaves). Nevertheless I keep trying, maybe one day I'll figure out the secret.
Thank you Madame President!
The haughtyculturists I try to avoid. They are the ones who cannot help themselves when it comes to pronunciation of a plant and giving the Latin botanic name. It's not so much the correcting, I like to learn, it's the 'tone' they use when making the corrections….
I just like my garden and just about everyone who loves gardening too. Just please don't use 'the tone' when telling me how to pronounce agastache or penstimon or…..
= D
Seeds are a wonderful thing. There's nothing quite like the exhilaration of seeing tiny sprouts popping up throughout the garden. I'm looking forward to starting a crop of fall lettuce in another month or two. I bought seeds at Smith & Hawken's going out of business sale. 40% off!