Over the last couple of weeks three very welcome packages have dropped onto our door mat. Firstly my Hardy Plant Society seed, secondly my Royal Horticultural Seed and thirdly my Hardy Plant Society Seed. Yes, so good they named it twice. For those of you not in the know, I will explain. Each year the HPS and RHS provide a number of packets of seed for their members, at a nominal cost, which you must select from a tantalising list of temptation. An additional option offered by the HPS is that for an extra £1.50 you can receive 20 further assorted packets. These I imagine are made up of the unloved, the lost, the underdogs. Surely this offer would be irresistible to any green blooded gardener? Well it is certainly is to me. It is like a horticultural lottery, who knows what the gods of chance will deliver to your muddy hand? What new chlorophylled delights will you be introduced to? And let us not forget that re-homing the rejected is a noble pursuit.
In the interim between order and delivery I invariably forget what I have requested. This is possibly because I have whittled my choice down from 374 “maybes” to the designated 20. You don’t always get your first choice as they are served out on a first come first served basis, so all arrivals have an element of surprise attached. The last package containing the truly unchosen is pure, random, revelation.
Today I sowed some of my new seed including the wonderful Clematis integrifolia. I have grown this scrambling clematis before, with its wonderful pixie-hat violet-blue flowers. The world definitely could do with a few more. Good luck little tadpoles!
Off The Edge Gardening 
Ahem! You must never identify the seeds you received in the second delivery. Donors are avidly checking and nothing is more deflating than finding that the seed you donated in good faith was unwanted! I will start my sowing on the weekend (waiting for a delivery tomorrow of fine-grade vermiculite). You will get a mention, promise! 😉
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These were not in the second delivery! One of my choices. 🙂
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Good luck! I used to take part in these exchanges (and the cyclamen society one) and remember those days very fondly, especially the ‘what should I have this year’ stage with its long shortlists.
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Kid in a candy shop! I do over-indulge. 🙂
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Germinating seed is THE most exciting thing for any gardener. Every morning when I check the greenhouse, if there is any new germination I will be happy for the rest of the day. Good luck with yours.
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I totally agree, I am excited just thinking about it! Big, big smiles. 🙂
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How exciting, specially if you can’ t remember what you ordered. Seed sowing can be so rewarding and so frustrating- the resolutely empty trays, the damping off, but also the thrill when you manage to nurse your babies through the hazardous birth and infancy into beautiful new plants.
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If it was easy would we want to do it? Possibly …… It is the worst when they die through neglect, then I feel very very guilty.
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Oh, I know that situation. But to me it happens, when I plant things. I forget, what I planted where (stuff that needs to go into the ground in autumn). So springtime invariably brings me lots of surprises….
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Sometimes I lie in bed and think “I am sure I had a *****, now where did I put that?!”
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I look forward to following their development and your surprise tadpoles.
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I really hope they germinate, I don’t remember them being particularly tricky before. Did you succumb to the seed?
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I didn’t succumb to the seed. I save quite a lot from my garden and then buy the more unusual ones from specialists seed suppliers such as Chiltern Seeds.
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I hope your little tadpoles do better than the ones I have in my pond! At the moment I have masses of frog spawn but it never seems to develop to tadpoles and if it does, I never see them progress any further:(
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Oh, I wonder why that is? Do you have fish?
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No, but we do have newts!
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They do look like lovely little tadpoles. And the promise of violet-blue flowers. Very exciting!
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It is! Hope I eventually get flowers to show you. 🙂
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What wonderful seeds they are. I’m having to limit gardening a lot at the moment, so only the only seeds I’ve got this year is the 6 packets from the Heritage Seed Library, all veg. So for now I’ll enjoy the seed excitement vicariously through you ;0
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You are very welcome to join me! 🙂
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I resisted this year. I have so many seeds left over from previous years and then, when I do sow them, I end up with far too many plants. This is uncharacteristically restrained of me ….. which means it cannot last 😉
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Are you feeling OK? Sounds like you aren’t quite yourself at the moment. I am sure you will recover soon. 😉
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