Hello 2026!
2026 has brought many changes, one of which is a new location! After a few years of core downtown living, we’ve made the move away from the heart of the city into the northern neighborhoods in search of more space and better balance. Fortunately for me, that meant a private rooftop deck. Not only does this give me the opportunity to grow the varieties I attempted in 2025, but to grow MORE. I definitely went overboard… like 50 different types of flowers and herbs overboard.
I started off this year eager and confident in my plans, researching every variety and planning the starting schedule and spaces, soil and light needs. Yes, I did make a spreadsheet. I’ve been doing what I can on my schedule and trying my best to document all of my hiccups and successes. One thing I have found I wish I had was a sheltered semi outdoor space for my cold hardy plants. You would think I would have that with the private rooftop deck. However, because the access to our roof is a hatch, it is not as easily accessible as I would like to have it, but I’ll take what I can get! That, for me, means that I’ve been starting a lot of my seeds indoors indoors on a bakers rack with grow lights.
For most of my seeds this has been okay! Mainly my herbs and warmer loving florals. For my cold hardy girlies, I am learning some lessons, but that is what this is all about! I’ve had to reorder some seeds to give myself a second chance. But with some like my poppies, snaps. And verbena, I will be testing other methods like the milk jug or gallon bag winter sow next year.
Even though there is some heartbreak in this learning process, nothing is more exciting than seeing those first little green sprouts popping through the soil.
I used to loathe the spring. I always hated the cold and muddiness of it. Now I see the tulip and daffodil spears piercing through the mud and begin counting down the days to their beautiful blooms. I notice that after the first thunderstorms in March the world just looks greener and you can feel the earth waking up. Maybe that’s just part of slowing down in your 30’s, maybe it’s a result of connecting with nature, either way, I adore it.
I cannot wait to see how my rooftop garden blooms this year!