greenhouse days

I really like when our plug orders come in. Even after all these years it's still exciting. All that potential. I am not good at always showing the progress as they get to maturity or RR ( retail ready) as the wholesalers like to call it. I know its confusing for customers as they might run across a cell flat of 100 or so little plants. Some come up with the whole tray to the counter. My fault as we don't always have the room to put things out of reach. They often look a little sad that I can't sell it to them. Maybe the price would discourage them? If you go only to box stores you might find our place strange....a little raw. That's ok. How many box stores have kitty cats and a pit bull running down the walkways? Just kidding we don't have Petey running down the walkways. The cats though will greet you. Charlotte especially likes to come up to people in the perennial area. That's her area. I love when people tell me "I saw a cat on one of the benches" or when kids come up to me and ask where the cats are.   I love when Petey ears go straight up in the air. I love his ears, his pink skin, his little black spots, his one pink eye with white lashes.  He's such a good boy and goes crazy for my homemade treats....when I have time to make them.
That fig tree we kept inside the greenhouse as they are one zone off of our area. Two seasons ago we planted one outside and I thought it hadn't made it. It wasn't until almost June that it sprouted some growth from the bottom and then finally the rest of it flushed out. I finally got some fruit late in the fall. Not having enough sun slowed it down I think. We planted 2 others in a sunnier spot last year. I am crossing my fingers as we had a harsher winter this time around. I was inspired by my friend Connie to do some cuttings. We are going to do a swap when mine are big enough to ship to her. She has a variety that produces like mad but doesn't remember the name. I don't need a name, just the figs!   That weird clothes pin contraption is our plug board that George made our first year in 1990. A dibbler. One pin is missing. He loves that thing. I rarely use it. I like using my other finger to make my own dibble. For years he has thought that I will lose it or worse secretly trying to lose it. It's for planting 806's or what normal people call annual flats. 8 packs of 6 plants each. Makes the perfect little hole to put those tiny little plugs in. Don't tell him but I have come around and use it all the time now. I am stubborn to a fault.