That's right, I did type "cukes" because you can germinate those seeds in February and eat cukes in June. I recommend you plant the seeds in a good sized pot because you will not be transplanting these fussy seedlings. I buy straight eights but any cuke will work and I sow about 8 seeds per planter. Cover the whole deal with saran wrap and find a warm, draft free surface to allow these newbies a chance to germinate. The top of the fridge works but a germination table, which my son built for me, has served me well for 2o years. Will post later.
I love delphiniums and rather than spend $15 on a plant from the nursery, I purchase seeds which will present me with a full tray of 8 flats of these and the most giant the variety, the better I like them. These fine seeds need an early start. Fill your seedling pack with a light planting mix, NOT potting soil, and water it down. Sprinkle the seeds on top of the mix, press lightly with the flat of your finger tips, and cover with saran wrap. These will need a warm, light area too.
Impatiens are tiny tiny seeds so handle these like delphinium but check the seed package. Some varieties like a dark germination condition so you may have to cover the tray with the saran wrap and a damp towel for a week or so.
Never let your seedlings dry out. Never. They will be history. Water from the bottom. No need to fertilize seedlings for a while because Mother Nature has provided all the nourishment it needs for a couple of weeks after germination and then only a kiss of fertilizer in the water.
Have a green time!
Listened to a butterfly expert give a talk to a small audience of Milbridge Library goers. I realized again how much I respect these creatures that I often don't notice lighting on a daisy or a cluster of milkweed flowers. But jeez, they're remarkable. Did you know the monarch butterfly lays only one egg per leaf on the milkweed plant. Somehow she knows the newly hatched young will eat the egg casing first and then find the leaf to eat. Any unhatched relative would be eaten by that firstborn. Interesting. The expert reminded us of the defenses butterflys and moths have... they eyes on upper or lower wings trick birds into thinking they're about to feast of the body. But alas, they clip the wing and the "eye" decoy, and many butterflies survive. 
This climbing rose would struggle in my garden were it not for the place it grows. Planted between the garage and main house, it is shielded from the north winter winds. The noon day and afternoon sun beat down on it from the other direction. It's hot hot hot, like a micro climate where it grows. I feel like I cheated Maine weather with this one.
Jack and the Beanstalk sunflowers are racing toward the sun and they'd best get a move on. I purchased these seeds from Pinetree Seeds Company located in Maine and have high hopes. Why...because I've underplanted pole beans around them. So grow, grow, grow.
