Get back to the gardening already!

So one of the many things I love about the Pacific Northwest is the fact that Spring actually starts around here when it is supposed to, i.e. months before it starts in the Midwest where I grew up. For example, there are crocuses blooming in the yard and the daffodils are about to pop. Can you believe it?! It is not even March yet! While the Midwest continues to get buried in snow and generally really f***ing cold right now we are planning the garden for this year. I have even already gotten to plant some seeds (granted they will be residing in the greenhouse in Colton where the family bee farm is) and will get to start a bunch of "starts" in nary a week. Did I already mention that I am super excited for the garden this year! I have never started from "starts" before and NONE of the seeds I planted directly in the ground grew last year grew - I am hoping it is just because it was bad year in general for gardening, not that I have some kind of black thumb. Either way, I am very hopeful that starting from starts is the way to go this year. My Mom is coming to visit this weekend and we plan to take her to the farm for some greenhouse fun. I am super excited for the flowers I plan on planting this year - getting a little closer to a cottage garden every year is my plan. In my imagination I can see out 'secret garden' already.... On the list this year are more foxglove (love it!), lots of sweet peas, morning glories, something that looks like a green flower from Mars called "Irish Bells", Mexican sunflowers, holly hocks and a few others I can't remember right now and don't have in front of me. We are also planting three rows of vegetables of all kinds and have raspberries, strawberries and blueberries, 2 baby apple trees and 2 baby pear trees. I will be sure to take lots of pictures of our progress.