The promise that Spring is coming!

While having lunch today and sitting in front of my computer

I remembered that I didn't know

where my pictures of last years plugs and cuttings had gone off to.

Then I found them on my little zip drive kicking around in my pile of papers.

Have I mentioned I hate to file papers!!!

These are from last year like I said but in a few more days some of the

same will be coming in.

Most of our trays have 82-100 plants already to get planted.

Most times they come on a heated grower truck. My favorite way for

them to arrive.

We used to start planting first week in February

when oil prices were less but we've changed what we grow

to accommodate that.

Sometimes they arrive in boxes sent Fed Ex where they are stacked on top

of one another divided by cardboard.

We get to know our delivery guys pretty well.

They know our plants are perishable and know that they

need a little more fragile handling then most of packages and need to be

left in a heated house.

On occasion we get the boxes delivered tipped on it's side and the plants

are damaged a little or the soil gets bounced out.

Doesn't happen that often.

We used to have to pick up at the airport in Hartford but I

avoid having to do that. Many growers do it that way to save shipping costs.

It amazes me that they can arrive in such good shape

with the cold and the handling.

Coleus is very tender as you may know and the slightest cold will damage it.

This one is called "El Brighto"~ appropriate name!!!

Vegetative coleus (from cuttings) had been touted as being

the best plant around but it took our customers a long time

to fall in love with them. Now it's the first thing

everyone wants to buy when we first open.

It can be a sunny, cloudy or a rainy day in the greenhouse and it's always a place

I love to spend my time in.

Right now we're still cleaning before our first delivery and the heat is only set at 40 deg.

or 4C. but that doesn't bother us.

We dress warmly but gloves are things I have a hard time using.

I see my hands in a picture and I can't believe how

wrinkled they look but that's ok. I guess when I get

really old::))) if I'm so lucky

I can look at my hands and know I did work hard but enjoyed what I did

for a living.

We work long hours...7days a week for months on end

but I can't imagine doing anything else.

We are truly married to our work.

Good thing we work together...haha...

we'd never see each otherwise.

There was a time we used to seed so many trays

ourselves but now we purchase them

mostly in plug trays.

Just pop them out and plant them.

Easy squeasy!

Marigolds, herbs and some veggies we still do.

The first day they poke there first set of leaves still excites me.

What do you plant by seed???