This morning we got a call from #4. Her first ever sleep over went so well, she was invited to stay another night! Awesome!
I did get some more winter sowing done today. Seven more jugs out the door!
Mary Washington Asparagus - I got these seeds in a swap, but the packet originated from MIGardener. There were a surprising amount of seeds in the packet considering the packets sell for 99-cents and it had already been opened and partially used. I planted liberally, because I do want several large patches of asparagus in the future.
Asperges D'Argenteuil Asparagus - I bought these seeds from Le Jardin du Gourmet (Artistic Gardens) for 40-cents (sample pack). There were 12 seeds (much better than the 3-5 they advertised). I planted them all.
Matt's Rhubarb - A family friend moved to a new home and there was a massive rhubarb patch. My mother described it as the largest rhubarb she's ever seen in her life. The family friend, not a gardener, said he planned to rip it all out. My mom snagged a couple of seed stems (with permission) and brought them to me. The seeds are more than double the size of my Victoria and Glaskins Perpetual seeds. I planted this variety last year side by side with Victoria to see the difference, and while they germinated well, as soon as I opened the containers in the spring, my birds thought they were quite delicious and ate them all! So I'm trying again this year and I will be more careful to keep the birds away if at all possible.
Victoria Rhubarb - A few years ago we bought Victoria rhubarb rhizomes and planted them. These seeds came from those plants back in 2017. We did dig them up and bring them with to the new house, but again, the birds seem to think rhubarb is the best treat, and I don't think they survived the summer enough to come back this year.
Goji berry (Wolfberry / Barbary) - I bought these seeds on eBay from overseas. I had bought some before and they had germinated, but then I didn't get it transplanted and it died in the winter sown container (entirely my fault). I'm trying this variety again now that we have plenty of space to just plunk it in the ground somewhere (we can dig it up and move it later if needed).
Black Elderberry - I bought these seeds from a US seller on eBay. I honestly don't know what to expect. Of all the other berry and tree seeds I bought at the same time from the same vendor, I have yet to see a single germination. I sowed liberally in case the problem in just low germination.
Apples - Again, yes, I'm planting apples from seed. The seeds in my little glass jar in the fridge are from our own apples as well as from store-bought named varieties. They're all mixed together, so I have no idea what we will get. It's exciting to try though, and it's not a waste to me. I have the space, and we have started fruit trees for production before these will be big enough to actually fruit. If they end up being bad flavored or too small or something, I can always cut them down and use the downed tree to make apple wood sticks, which bunnies love to nibble on. Either way, virtually no cost to start, and maybe we'll get some really tasty variety. After all, McIntosh apples were a seed-grown variety that has now been cloned (through cuttings, not laboratory GMO) for mass production.
Above is Ginger Bear, the only orange marked kitten (except Amos who is a flame-point). He has strange eyes that we can't quite figure out. I think they're copper because they almost match his orange fur, but #3 insists they're more green. They are not blue like his siblings'. Ginger Bear is the biggest of the kittens, he explores and plays hard. He has been known to meow for attention and today he answered #3 talking to him with a meow (adorable). He is a bit of a scalawag. He tries to jump into my pants every time I go to use the bathroom, then he sits inside my pant legs and tries to play with his siblings through my jeans. Strange hobby Ginger Bear...
Below is Butter Beer. She's a petite girl, but full of mischief. She's the usual suspect trying to play with Ginger Bear while he's stuffed himself down a pant leg. Butter Beer has gorgeous blue eyes and that little blue snip over her nose. At first I'd say Butter Beer is quiet. She's a thinker. I've watched her study things and seem to calculate before acting. But she's also playful, typically more toward the other kittens than with us. She's also the most likely to climb your pants and demand attention. She is the first of the kittens to discover how to get up to the windows to look outside. She's very bright. I see a lot of potential in her. She will make someone a very nice companion.
If anyone is interested in adopting a kitten, please let me know. They will be spayed/neutered, current on vaccines, micro-chipped, litter box trained, and well socialized with kids before they leave. They will go to their new homes with a return contract (they must come back to us if their selected new home cannot keep them or no longer wants them - for their entire life, no explanation needed, no refunds). They will also have collars by then. Adoption fee for these babies will be $250 each. I'm starting to screen people now, and will accept a (non-refundable) $100 deposit if we find a good match. Deposits go toward paying for vet care and are meant to show that someone is serious about waiting until the kittens are ready to leave. Please be completely sure (check with roommates, spouses, or significant others, check with your landlord, etc.) before you place a deposit. The remaining $150 will be due at time of pick up. All profits from kitten sales will go toward getting some of our other cats spayed and neutered.