I scattered seeds two weeks ago – has it really been two weeks? Nothing major, just some cress and chard and mustard and basil, the latter being an obvious no. Last year I sowed them in February and was rewarded with sprouts in March. Well, I glanced at my bin on the 14th and discovered a generous sprinkling of these:

 They could be any type of green – possibly self sowed arugula from last year, even. It is nice to be reminded that there is really no notion of behind in the lexicon of an arm chair gardener. Even without these sprouts, I was in the green with my scraggly swiss chard nubs, not to mention herbs:

Represented here by the parsley that over wintered. These plants stayed green until about January, when it finally got cold, but they popped back up as soon as the last of the February snows had melted. I tore away all the dead, yellow bits and now they look young and full of promise. I didn’t realize parsley was a perennial, but I’m beginning to see that most plants would be, if given the right conditions. Mixed with the uncontainable ardor of mint, the perking up of the lavender, and the thin blades of dill, they promise a lush and bountiful Spring.

My plates are standing at the ready.