I have been starting pansy seed in the past few weeks. They are starting to sprout, and I moved some of them under lights today. I keep them covered until they sprout. Some people claim that starting pansy in the dark is the best way to get decent germination. The first to sprout were Swiss Giant and  Viola Amber Kiss. I love the colors red + orange, so I had to try Viola Angel Amber Kiss( this plant is sterile or plants will not come true to seed if you are trying to save your seeds). I heard they are fragrant, too!

I take the lid off and put them under lights since they will get leggy if I wait for them all to sprout. The other seed usually follows within a few days. Swiss Giant and Amber Kiss were started on January 18th.

I am still sorting my orange zinnia from last year. My personal goal the next few years is to save most of my seed from Palm Rae Potager. I do not want to keep purchasing seed every season which will make Palm Rae Potager more sustainable. If I save my seed it will adapt to my growing conditions. I have been spending the winter months researching the family, genus and species of all Palm Rae Potager  flowers, vegetables and herbs. 

For more information about starting pansy plants form seed

http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3068862925955490204#editor/target=post;postID=3670441033446582773

Starting Plants in January

Siberian Wallflower (Cheiranthus Allionii)

I am starting these from seed this winter. I found this lovely orange blossom growing last summer in Palm Rae Potager, and the scent was intoxicating! Every part of this flower is poisonous. So you have to be careful where you place this flower. You do not want it around small children or pets that might try to eat it. It has an inviting floral fragrance! I found this information at Dave's Garden. 

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/2103/#b

White Lilac Spring 2011

I have dark purple, light purple and a white lilac in my yard. I did not pay attention to the variety name at the time. I just placed them in my yard. I have such little, full sun that I moved them several times. I am trying to keep them as long as I can since my large 70+ year old tree shades them. I hope they bloom this spring. nothing can compare to the smell of a lilac bush in a spring garden.

I started from seed this week a group of Pansy and Johnny Jump Ups. I have a better camera which should help me take more detailed pictures this year. I am anxious to see what color combinations I have in the garden.

Summer Beauty on my mind in January!

look at these beauties....only weeks away for spring blooms.....

I need to see color today! Time to use color and create.....need my dose of color...starting plants for Palm Rae Potager but they are seedlings...so need to see color today.....spring is around the corner.......

It is like waiting to see an old friend....

Winter Finally---starting pansy inside this week

Not much going on in the garden. It is under snow. Winter is finally here and we have more snow

coming tonight(4-8inches?). I'm busy starting plants inside this month. I started my pansy flowers this week. I hope you are starting yours ,too. They need 14-16 weeks to reach bloom stage. I like to set them out in March to April. They can tolerate the cooler weather/spring temperature.

Love the blue sky and white snow framing winter interest, Palm Rae Potager in January 2012

I really love grasses in all 4 seasons! They provide a contrast against the dark cone flowers.

Yucca plants provide green in the middle of winter....

I thought this little angel looked like she was poking out of the earth and praying for spring! 

The last few years, I have noticed how beautiful the Mississippi River is in the Quad Cities. I have missed the Great  lakes up north, but not as much in the past few years. There is such beauty in the Mississippi River. This is the Marina located in Rock Island, Illinois. You can see the bridge off in the distance. Only one of 3 bridges connecting Iowa and Illinois. 

Winter at the Mississippi Marina 2012

A study in patterns. The winter snow looks like sand....at least to me it does...:-)

Just messing with some of my bad shots---interesting color!

Okay, this is too much fun!

My world is colorful in the middle of winter.....I like that a lot....

Wednesday Wonders

Fairies running through the winter garden

There is beauty in January. I do have some Kale, spinach, Swiss chard, Endive, Cabbage, lemon thyme tea and Verte A Coeur Plein/Corn Salad in Palm Rae Potager.

Quiet time in the garden

I found the blue sky in contrast with the winter grasses just beautiful!

I started micro greens inside last week. The weather is still in the 40's some days, and even 50's which is very unusual for this time of year. I sure hope we get some snow soon. I will be starting some plants in the next few weeks.

Even my helpers look a bit frustrated with the weather,,,,

The daffodils should not be coming up! 

Orange Zinnia

I collected them this fall and today it was time to sort seeds for next spring.

It was a messy project.....

You can see the flower petal attached to the seed. I placed the seed away from the petal and flower, so you are able to see the shape of the seed. I found them easy to collect, but I will collect them earlier before they drop too many of their seeds next year!

I wonder what they will look like next year, I know they will be orange!

They held their orange color pretty well. I will use them in homemade potpourri .

Grandma Palm

100 + years ago Grandma Grace

 I've been busy going through old photographs, which I will, be doing for the next few months. I've made a few prototypes of some final projects. I have to produce a bit more dry items to complete what I want to make next summer. I have saved flower seed to plant and will be better prepared to save many of the dried flowers. I will share those later in the spring.

I'm busy sorting through boxes of pictures from Grandma Grace Palm's home. She is one of the inspirations for Palm Rae Potager. She was a remarkable women. I will post some of the pictures I'm uploading this month. I'm able to adjust them and enlarge many of them. It is addictive!

Grandma Grace was my husband's grandmother. When my husband and I were married she attended our wedding, and she was 94 years old! I remember her in her pink suit. She was in her nineties and still going out to the garden each morning to cut fresh flowers for the vases at her morning breakfast table. She died the year my first daughter was born. She was able to hold her,and it was truly memorable. She grew many flowers, food, herbs, roses and loved many indoor plants, too.

Grandma Grace Palm

 Here she  is holding a handful of flowers which she loved.