Shopping Siren nearly swooned last weekend. Swooned. Like a Victorian maiden who had just seen her fair love return from war.
Except I was watching a preseason Red Sox game.
And instead of my fair love, I saw grass.
I had nearly forgotten such a thing existed. But there it was, glorious in its green-ness, nary a flake of snow or splash of mud in sight.
Swoon.
I know we’re bound to see grass around here again. Sometime. Maybe soon. Certainly by July or so.
Odds are.
In the meantime, at least there’s baseball being played in Florida and “Hawaii Five-0” on TV (swoonworthy for reasons well beyond grass).
For the proactive among us, there are seeds to buy for the backyard gardens that will be plantable just as soon as the ground thaws. You know, any . . . day . . . now. So don’t wait.
Because green is good.
* Miracle-Gro tomato Gro-ables pod, Tractor Supply Co., $1.99
Includes mulch, tomato seed and fertilizer, all in a pod that fits in the palm of your hand. Remove lid, place in loosened soil. That’s it! In a few months, you’ll be able to enjoy a hearty BLT while lounging in a hammock underneath the warm summer sun. (Disclaimer: Plant provides neither bacon nor hammock.)
* Dunecraft terrariums, Tractor Supply Co., $19.99
In Fairy Triad, Hydroponic Flytraps and Carnivorous Creations. Each kit comes with a dome, accessories and seeds for plants that match the theme. (Think Venus flytrap for the Carnivorous Creations, evening star and other whimsical flowers for the Fairy Triad.) Great for a bit of indoor green until the outdoor green catches up.
* Van Bloem Gardens organic seed potatoes, Tractor Supply Co., $5.99
Choose from eight kinds of potatoes, including cherry red (for boiling or baking), purple Peruvian (for roasting or frying) and German butterball (for mashing). It’s never too early to plan your Thanksgiving sides.
* Burpee seed tape, Paris Farmers Union, $6.59
Biodegradable paper stuck with seeds — just place the paper strips in the ground, cover and wait for something to grow. Available for different vegetables, including lettuce, radishes and beets. Sure, you could make your own seed tape, which is particularly good for tiny seeds and small beds where spacing is important, but you’re already making your own food here. One must draw the DIY line somewhere! I draw it at seed tape.
* Botanical Interests cat grass seed packet, Paris Farmers Union, $1.69
It’s grass! Like in the ball field! Only this grass you can grow inside and give to your furry friend. So not like the ball field at all. But Fluffy will thank you for it.
* Toothache plant seed packet, Pinetree Garden Seeds & Accessories online, $1.35
According to Pinetree’s website, this plant produces green leaves and burgundy flowers that numb the mouth. It also serves as an antibiotic. Who knew? And who knew this seed company was based in New Gloucester? It sells mostly online and via catalog, but it also offers some discontinued seeds at its headquarters — an old farmhouse on Route 100. Just watch out for the mud as you drive up. Though, really, that could be said about all of Maine.
* Sunflower seed packets, Pinetree Garden Seeds & Accessories, $1.35 to $2.95
Choose from 25 different kinds of sunflowers, including the Kong, a 14-foot tall, 8-foot wide mammoth of a flower, and the Lemon Queen, a flower so bright and cheerful it virtually double-dog dares you to frown at it. That’s a pretty steep dare for a sunflower.
Best find: Sunny-Side Up Gardens, Tractor Supply Co., $9.99
Child’s gardening kit includes seeds, starter soil, wooden plant ID stakes and instructions, all nestled in an egg carton. To add to the adorableness: Each kit has a theme. Is your little one feeling hoppy? The Little Bunny Garden provides seeds for carrots, green beans and other vegetables likely to be nibbled by a small woodland creature. Does he want something colorful? The Kaleidoscope Garden comes with a variety of flower seeds. For planting a love of gardening. Aww.
Think twice: About giving up and heading south for the winter
Snowbanks have melted to a less dangerous height. Potholes are starting to dot the roadways. Mud is rapidly overrunning lawns and driveways. It’s nearly spring! So grab a packet of seeds and wait at the door. It should be arriving any minute now.
Shopping Siren’s true identity is protected by a pair of stylish, sweater-wearing Doberman pinschers (who believe mud baths should replace all other baths) and the Customer Service counter at the Sun Journal. You can reach her at shoppingsiren@sunjournal.com.
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