Just over two weeks ago we still had significant snow walls around our entire yard. A week ago the largest piles were still in evidence. By the middle of this past week the snow was completely out on our property. And today --in addition to the crocuses and the tulip, hyacinth, daffodil, and iris leaves-- all of these plants are alive and growing in our yard right now:
* chionodoxas --just started blooming today
* squill --almost blooming
* Ambassador alliums --leaves
* Leucojum --leaves
* alpine strawberries --leaves (grown from seed last year)
* pansies --leaves (still there or returned? from last spring's planting)
* calamints --new leaves (grown from seed and planted last spring)
* Jacob Cline monardas --new leaves
* Black Scallop ajugas
* Chocolate Chip ajugas
* Mariposa Violet scabiosas --leaves
* Totally Tangerine geum --leaves
* Rose Campion --leaves
* multiple daylilies --new leaves
* Lamb's Ears --new leaves
* Autumn Fire sedum --new leaves
* Georgia Peach heuchera
* Rhubarb --first leaf just emerging
* Lemon Balm --new leaves (grown from seed and planted last spring)
On top of that 14 of my 38 winter sowing containers have sprouts:
* Orach (set out Apr. 6th)
* Mountain Mint (set out Jan. 18th)
* California Poppies (2 containers --1 set out Jan. 18th & 1 set out Feb. 1st)
* Snapdragons (set out Jan. 18th)
* Candytuft (set out Jan. 18th)
* 2 kinds of Lettuce (both set out Apr. 6th)
* Calendula (set out Jan. 26th)
* Five Spot (2 containers --1 set out Jan. 18th & 1 set out Feb. 1st)
* Foxglove (set out Jan. 18th)
* Malva Zebrina (set out Jan. 18th)
* Nigella (set out Jan. 18th)
Given that I believe this was the coldest winter we've had in the 11 winters I've spent in New Hampshire, I think I can declare winter sowing a great way to start certain seeds. I know I haven't actually seen them all the way through to planting, but the fact that so many seeds have sprouted already after sitting outside in frigid weather for months is both a testament to the hardiness of the seeds and the usefulness of the method. I never could have found room to start all those plantings inside, and it's WONDERFUL not to be trying to figure out how to cram so many seedlings into my limited "nursery" space.
