Newbie to the board-Introduction

Hello All,

Since I've jumped in on a couple of threads, I thought I'd take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Jacki (aka PlantiMcPlanter) and I live in zone 5b. I've been gardening for years but this spring I had surgery with some problems...so I've put all my recovery energy into obsessive seed starting! Right now, I have seeds starting everywhere...but that's nothing compared to how the house will look when I start potting on the seedlings :)

I'm really glad to have found this site and all the great gardeners within!!
Jacki

Well,HELLO! and WELCOME,Jackie! Are you like me and have perpetual potting soil under your fingernails?I completely understand the obsessive seed-starting. I have 20 flats started..it keeps me from getting the severe winter depression i always used to get.There is just something so therapeutic about raising those babies from seed.Hope you recover well!
Gail

Thanks, Gail. I agree about starting seeds...it's so hopeful...and kinda awe inspiring. I don't think I have 20 flats going...but I'm on my way! Some set by the heat vent, some in a cool room, some old seeds on damp paper towels laying on top of my growlight. I've already got some great ideas off this site so I'm really excited about the whole thing.

Thanks for your welcome!
Jacki

PlantiMcPlanter, I'm on the other side of the mountains in Port Orchard, Wash. just N.W. of Seattle. what all are you growing from seed? I did a lot of seeds this year along with fern spores. I was introduced to hardy ferns a few years ago and now have quite a collection. good luck, hostajim1

I think this is the complete list:
Campanula carpatica
Campanula cochlearifolia
Coleus
Hollyhock
Sempervivum, Mixed Species
Lettuce (in a pot already sitting outside)
Nigella, (Love in a mist)
Dianthus deltoides (Maiden Pink)
Thyme
Verbascum
Larkspur
Blue Bedding Sage
Scented Geranium
Sedum, mixed
Cerastium (Snow in summer)
Digitalis mertonensis (Strawberry Foxglove)
Sweet Alyssum
Eupatorium (Joe Pye Weed)
Dianthus 'Sooty'
Heirloom Rainbow Blend Tomatoes (from Parks...they sent five different kinds of tomato seeds all lumped together in the same packet...grrrrr...guess it will be interesting trying to id the plants before fruiting!)
Verbana 'Peaches n Cream'

-----------------------
This isn't counting the old seeds I'm testing for germination right now. They are mostly veggie seeds.
We just moved to this house a year or so ago. It had been a rental for years and the yard was pretty trashed. So I've almost got a clean slate! I got some accomplished last year but it was pretty slow due to my health issues. I think this spring is really going to be great!!
BTW, I would love to know how to start ferns from spores...any suggestions on books or websites??
Jacki

PS...I love Port Orchard and the surrounding area. What a great place to garden!!

Hi, Jacki. Welcome to DG! I see we have the same types of seeds propagating indoors. From your list I have the following: Campanula carpatica
Campanula cochlearifolia
Hollyhock
Sempervivum, Mixed Species
Dianthus deltoides (Maiden Pink)
Thyme
Larkspur
Sedum, mixed
Cerastium (Snow in summer)
Digitalis mertonensis (Strawberry Foxglove)
Sweet Alyssum
Eupatorium (Joe Pye Weed)
Dianthus 'Sooty'

I'll be starting Nigella and lettuce later on. If you've started scented geranium from seed, it may not be the same as the parent plant. Those are best started from cuttings. The Pacific Northwest offers some great gardening opportunities. Your winters are mild enough and your summers warm enough to grow many more things than I can.

I've never grown ferns from spores, but it would be interesting to try. We have lady ferns all over in the woods, as well as some dainty little bracken. It's been too easy to transplant them, so I've never grown them from spore.

Wheezingreens-

I found JLHudson Seeds through this site and that's where I got many of my seeds, including the sempervivum and sedum. What about you? I made a big order through Park Seed, too...
Jacki

I usually buy most of my seeds from Stokes, and I usually put in an order with Thompson & Morgan, but this year, I decided to rely on my huge seed tote and a small order with Value Seeds. I collected Sempervivum, Sedum, Dianthus deltoides, Digitalis mertonensis, Campanula cochlearifolia, and the Campanula carpatica last fall. Many of the others were received in trade or purchased in previous years.