Daily Dose Blogger Bios
I Can't Germinate...
I have to come clean on something that fills me with shame. I'm a total fraud.
Germinatrix? HA! More like Germi -NOT-trix...
It all started on my birthday -no, actually, before that. It starts with an egg.
An Eggling, actually. An adorable little porcelain egg that contains a seed starting medium, and comes with a packet of seeds. I saw one at a friend's house. It had a seedling growing out of it, looking strong, stretching to the sun. I was so charmed, and wanted one badly. Then I forgot about it...
So here comes by birthday - November 28 - and there it went ... I was sick as a dog. A few days later that same friend presented me with an eggling of my own, and showed me how to crack it gently, with a teaspoon, so that I could create an opening big enough to add water, and for the seed to get sunlight, and eventually grow strong and spunky. I was happy that I was given such a sweet present from a sweet friend, and I was also a little smug - I am a hot shot gardener. I am going to have the best eggling ever, and I will make my pal proud.
I guess the eggling hasn't read all the press about Elysian Landscapes, or the articles that I've written for garden publications, or this blog for that matter - because the eggling has refused to germinate for me. Since the end of November, I have been tending to the little egg, watering it carefully, setting it on my sunny kitchen windowsill, waiting for the first set of tiny pseudo-leaves to emerge.
They never came. I haven't given up - I still water and put it up on the windowsill (it has to be taken down whenever we open our windows- they swing inwards). I stare at it. I silently plead with it to grow, to not make me look like a fool, horticulturally feeble; a germinating fraud.
At a festive dinner party on Xmas Eve, another dear friend said she had 'the perfect present for me' - and I love presents! I unwrapped it with a big smile on my face, which I'm told disappeared the instant I saw that I was holding - yes - another Eggling. Surely I was being mocked.
My always wonderful husband says the first eggling was obviously a dud (see why I love him?), and I should just move on to number two and forget about the sprout-less little porcelain shell. But I can't. I was actually thinking about buying a random seedling and planting it in Eggling #1, but who would I be fooling?
The friend who gave me Eggling #2 (which I refuse to plant - I'm scared) says that her daughter's is growing so big it might need to be transplanted already. The daughter is four years old.
Such a promising career... undone by an egg...
Heavy sigh...
I would try with a different seed. A marigold would be pretty growing in the egg.
Omigosh! I laughed so hard! I feel for you, and could just picture the whole debacle unfolding...or, rather, NOT unfolding. You have my deepest sympathies and my empathy. I have a long list of things I've killed or failed to raise. The great mysteries of life... Go ahead, give it a shot with Eggling #2 -- if nothing else, it will give you blog fodder again! Thanks for sharing a chuckle.
I agree with Nancy... you've got a dud seed! marigolds are my fav... but i always have the best luck with sunflower seeds. please try again... you should have your answer in 2 weeks.
Hi NancyFrance (what a great name! That name deserves a song) and Easftlaud - you make me feel better. See how my brain works? I don't even think about the seed being bad ... it's ME that is bad! I feel a topic for therapy next week...
I think I need the easiest seed imaginable... I'm thinking - yes, nasturtiums. I have never known a nasturtium seed not to germinate! My ego needs a sure thing...
And another thing ... maybe Chuckb, who grows everything from seed, can tell me - isn't Lavandula notoriously difficult to germinate? Or am I just trying to make myself feel better?
Dear Dianakirby, you made my day ... I'm glad you had a good laugh. I also can't help but giggle when I look at the empty Eggling sitting on my windowsill. And it snickers tight back at me!
Germi you're not a dud! Just plant #2 and send it good thoughts to grow. If it doesn't grow, just chuck it....or have the 4 year old come over to give you some tutorials! :)
That is hilarious! I love the way that little egg looks, but if it won't grow for you-- I am not sure that I hold out much hope for myself. I find that I gravitate towards the plants that are already started for me...
By the way, since you are a frenchie lover, I know you would appreciate this-- having just moved to Portland, my frenchie (Gracie) is none too pleased with me for the change of environs. She hates the rain-- her whole body curls up in dismay. Are your frenchies the same way?
Juree
Epmanda, I'm glad you don't think I'm a dud. I really do try to be a good Germinatrix! But I fear the Eggling #2... what if it doesn't work, too! Can I really ignore what the Egglings are implying?
But something I didn't think of - who knows how long those seeds sat around? The Eggling people could have bought them years ago in preparation for their entrepreneurial scheme. .... I'm reaching, aren't I? I just have to develop a phlegmatic attitude about the whole thing.
I've waited so long to be able to use the word 'phlegmatic'!
Juree! Stay away from the egg! Unless we all want to enter into clinical trials to see how well these things work ... which may not be a bad idea...
Omigod - you have a frenchie! Gracie!
Dexter and Sadie do the same thing when it rains. They curl up in protest. Dexter doesn't understand the concept of rain being all around the house. He thinks that if it's raining at the kitchen door, it might not be raining at the front door - he always goes to check. Then he'll check the side door. He then will swoop back to the kitchen door, thinking he'll catch the rain with its guard down or something. This can go on for ten minutes until he finally gives up and curls up in a huff.
Thank goodness we've had a couple of days of sun! I never thought I'd say that...
I want to see Gracie!
Sigh-- what I wouldn't give to see the sun right now. It is of course raining here as we speak (of Portland is so lovely I feel guilty for complaining too much!). I will be happy to send you a couple of ridiculous images of Gracie Allen-- just send me an email at jsondker@timberpress.com!
Oh, poor little Germy. It's not you!
Germi, this is off topic, but I have a Very Important Question:
Just bought 6 huge (30") planters to use as a screen for the front patio, which was originally a parking area, and fronts on a shared driveway.
My plan is to plant with dwarf citrus, all the same kind, and underplant with geraniums.
But what type of citrus? I was originally going to go with dwarf Meyer lemon, but my DH pointed out that we can't use the fruit we already have and can't even give them away. The look is great, tho. So, dwarf Meyer or something else?
We live In California, along the central coast.
Please help me, dear Germi (and anyone else who might have ideas)....
I love the idea, Sumcool - something about potted citrus says 'California' to me ... and the scent! It's true, there will be alot of fruit...so why not use a citrus that isn't used for food? I have been head-over-heels for the 'Buddha's Hand 'Fingered Citron lately - and most people use the resulting fruit more as a sculpture than an edible. You can use the zest to brighten up any number of dishes ... but mostly, it's there to look strange and cool. I'm going to plant one!
Check them out at:
http://www.fourwindsgrowers.com/variety_list.html#citron
Good luck!
Thanks, Germi, I'll check it out.
sumcool