Blogiversary Week, Day 2

Day 2 of my week long giveaway is here.  If you missed day one, well head on over here.

If you're going to have a garden journal, well you need something to write about...  For my veggies and annuals, I do a combination of seeds and starts.  I keep track of what seeds I like based on how well they do and whether I like what they produce, vegetable, fruit or flower.  I like to keep track of the package information regarding size and germination.  It's not good to plant the little Zinnias behind the big Zinnias ya know.  I also keep track of what brand they were as well.  Today folks, it's all about the seeds. 

Some of my seeds come from local stores, but some, like my white impatiens I get through a catalog online... because nobody, and I mean nobody sells plain white impatien seeds.  These I start early, like the end of February, in my enclosed south facing front porch.  By July they look like this... yes they are slow growing little buggers.

Most of my other seeds get a jump start in my hand me down greenhouse.

I like a variety of sunflowers...

and the adorable, "Teddy Bear" sunflower.

Cucumbers, my hands down favorite is the Lemon Cucumber.  If you haven't tried one of these you're really missing out.  It's an heirloom seed, although you may inclined to think it's something "newfangled".

Cutting flowers in the vegetable garden include, lots of zinnias, a regular riot of them...

my favorite, "Envy" zinnia.  I've heard it's Martha Stewart's favorite too.

Lots of different kinds of pumpkins.
























The breathtaking Hollyhock named "Peaches and Dreams".

Purple Lupines...

and purple and green beans.

This year I tried a new variety of beets, they had stripes!

And one of my favorites, Sweet Peas, I cut them for my kitchen window.  Oh, how I love their spicey smell.

So if you're following along, you've probably caught on... today's addition is a little something for you to start your own seeds.

Bamboo plant markers, pulp pots and a $15.00 gift certificate to Park Seeds... the only place I've found online that has white Impatiens.  A wonderful company that's been around since 1868, offering a HUGE variety of seeds.  And they ship to the US and Canada.

Good luck to all,
Chris at Red Gate Farm

PS - Here are rules that I posted on Monday, January 24th.


Starting today, and each day until the drawing, I will be adding something NEW to the GIVEAWAY, so each day you get an additional opportunity to enter... by leaving a comment. The final addition will be one week from today, Monday January 31st. This means you have up to 8 times to enter! The winner will be announced on Tuesday, February 1st.


And of course, my followers, well they get an automatic "extra" entry.... for a potential of nine entries.