OK, let me reiterate once again that I'm incredibly late starting seeds this year. They should've been started weeks ago, but I just got around to it last Sunday. Shame on me.

Oh well, better late than never. This year I picked up a new "green" trick from of all people -- Martha Stewart -- yes, good ol' Martha, the woman who can always come up with a better way to do -- EVERYTHING!!

Anyway, while perusing one of her many magazines, I came across her suggestion for saving used yogurt cups to start seeds. (She really thinks of everything, doesn't she?) So, since we throw plenty of used yogurt cups in the recycle bin every week, I figured why not? Other plastic containers can be used just as well, like butter containers, Cool Whip, Beneful dog meals, etc.

So on Sunday, I got out my menagerie of "recycled" plastic containers and went to work creating what I hope will be beautiful seedlings to add to this year's garden. (I say this every year ... only to find it's easier to go out and buy the plant, letting the pros do the seeding work.) But darn it -- this WILL be the year I get those seeds growing!!

I planted a wide assortment of Celosia Plumara (ordered from the Jung Seed catalog), Gaillardia/Monarda (sometimes called Mexican Daisy), Zinnias (virtually guaranteed to grow), Wayahead Tomatoes and Cucumbers (both freebies from Jung Seed). And, of course, fancy Sunflower seeds -- yes, I'm going to try to grow them again.

As I've stated before, every year I put out sunflower seeds, only to have the chipmunks, birds and squirrels (mostly the chippies) dig them up, within minutes I'm sure, after I walk away, and eat them!

I also have a pack of Wildflower mix and a Cutting Garden mix that I hope to start this weekend in a new flower bed I'm developing...

After carefully putting all the seeds to bed with a little watering, I proudly stacked them on the top shelf of the new greenhouse and zipped the cover closed. Now comes the hard part --- WAITING ....

Up next: Trouble in the Pond!

Just a quick note to check out The Mercury today for our Lawn & Garden section. It's full of helpful tips for planning this year's garden and landscape. Also check out the local advertisers, because it's going to be a big weekend for nurseries and greenhouses.

And speaking of greenhouses, on our Berks County shopping pages in today's paper, there's a wonderful article on Glick's Greenhouses (my personal favorite) in Oley. Cider, Glick's furry mascot, is ready to ring you up at the register!

Also featured in this section is Spring Garden Farms in Birdsboro.

Remember to save some money this weekend for Monday's big Spring Bedding Plant Sale at the Western Center for Technical Studies in Limerick. It will feature their greenhouse grown annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetables, hanging baskets and flower pouches. The sale runs through May 10, with hours from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Check it out.

And coming up on May 5, The Mercury will publish its Home & Garden magazine. So don't miss your copy!