Today we bought seed starting supplies at Friedman's. I now have 2 trays of 72 starts each with 2 heater pads and dome and a ton of seed starter soil mix. Ready to Go!!!!!!!!! I bought seeds this year from 5 different companies! But I only bought the most unusual, rare heirloom varieties. I am becoming obsessed with growing melons. I'm not sure exactly why other than the fact that I adore eating melons but mostly they are hard to grow here so it's a challenge to my gardening skills. It is most exciting to try out varieties and if they pass the test, I save the seeds.

Our garden loving neighbor Joy brought me back melon seeds from Italy (instructions in Italian only). Translates roughly to " big yellow melons". These were delicous and definate "keepers"! She also brought some from Turkey-again name unknown- but who cares! They are green and yellow striped and a sort of honey dew type, very sweet and delicate. This is my 3rd year of using my own seeds from these. Now I will add a variety I found "St.Nick" that one can store for eating nearly to Christmas time. They say they continue to ripen and grow sweeter in storage. Another is "Eel River" which is an heirloom variety originating in Japan around the time of WWII. It seems a fellow up in Humbolt Co. has been morphing it (Matthew says "through selection" is a more appropriate term) into a variety that grows well in his local climate. Looks to be a Musk melon type. Can't wait to taste it. Also bought a hybrid (big prize winner) honeydew type (my favs), and of course Sugar Baby watermelons.....yum!!!

Ok so enough about melons-sigh. I must manifest many more raised beds to pull this off. Who knows? I may become the local Petaluma Melon Mama!