Hardening Off

Today, I started the hardening off process, which basically means acclimating your seedlings to the outdoors by letting them spend more and more time outside for a week or two until you transplant them into the garden. I put them in a shady spot outside, and I'll let them stay outside for an hour or two today. Tomorrow, I'll put them outside for a little longer, and in a few days I'll try putting them in a sunny spot. Eventually, they will be spending all day outside in the sun, and then I can plant them in their permanent garden. I started the hardening off process with my zinnias and lupine, which are the most developed of my seedlings. 

Zinnia and lupine sprouts enjoying the nice weather

I will start hardening off my columbine and poppies soon, but my lavender, snapdragons, violas, pansies, and petunias need a little more time to grow. They are all still pretty young. The good news is when the older seedlings are transplanted to the garden, the young seedlings will have more access to the grow light (it is pretty overcrowded right now)!
I have also been trying to get the zinnia garden in shape. I dug out tons of weeds (and a huge tree stump and roots), and I am planning on buying compost in order to provide the best soil possible. Things are going to be very exciting for the gardens over the next couple of weeks! May might become my new favorite month!

Zinnia garden - before

Getting rid of everything

Zinnia garden - after (before compost)

Also exciting: one of the zinnia sprouts is starting to bloom!

Yep, that little thing in the middle is the beginning of a bloom!