Treasure hunting for my future bottle tree

I was helping my friends work on the gazebo again today out in Granger. I arrived a little early and walked through the creek looking for treasure. I found 8 bottle of different shapes and sizes. Most of them are clear with a few brown ones mixed in. I plan on looking again next time to see what else I can find. From what I hear,  there used to be an old stagecoach stop down the creek and the patrons used to toss their beer bottles into the creek. 

Seeds update

Almost all of the seeds are sprouting now. I think the combination of the cover and heat pad did it. I am removing the cover starting tonight, since most things I read said that once the seeds have sprouted you should remove the greenhouse cover. Hopefully, they continue growing as they have been. At this rate I'll need to start gathering larger containers. I have a few leftover from last spring, but no where near the 72 I'll need.

Okra Already Sprouting??

I just planted the seeds last night and tonight I checked to see how everything is doing and the okra is already sprouting. They are pretty warm, with the greenhouse top and the heating pad on the bottom, but I didn't expect results this soon. Maybe it's typical for okra, I'll have to do some research...

Here's my setup. There's room for 72 seedlings. The sections are a little small so I may have to transplant later, depending on how they do. This is my first time with seeds, so I'm being a little optimistic.
Okra closeup

Seeds Planted - Beds Ordered

I'm starting to cross things off the list...

Last night I planted tomatoes (brandywine, sunny gold, romas, rainbow cherry), peppers (jalapenos, serranos, canary bell, red bell), and okra. I purchased a starter kit, which has a greenhouse cover. I also poured a layer of water in the bottom to keep it moist. It is sitting next to one of our windows in the sun room on a heating mat. Hopefully, by this weekend I should see something.

I also ordered my cedar raised beds last night. They should be here by friday. They are really beautiful. Here's the link...
http://gardenraisedbeds.com/

Spring To-Do List

My garden has been so neglected. With football in the fall, this sporadically cold winter, and helping my friends build a gazebo every other saturday, I haven't done much besides watering. Unfortunately, with our lack of rain, this has been more than I'd like. I'm just starting to realize how quickly spring is coming and I have a ton of things on my plate. I thought I'd put a list together of everything I need to do.

X 1. Plant spring seeds. (I bought a heat mat, seeds, and starter kit yesterday, so I'm not far off)

X 2. Dig out blackberry beds along creek

X 3. Dig hole and plant kumquat tree

X 4. Dig out 3 4x8 sections for new raised beds

X 5. Install raised beds and bag compost/soil/mulch

6. Find spot for strawberry plants and get them planted.

X 7. Prune Roses (Feb 14)

8. Find, purchase and plant limequat tree
Update - having trouble finding one, not sure if this is going to happen

9. Find, purchase and plant pomegranate bush
Update - haven't convinced DH that we must have one, might not happen this year

10. Dig out beds along fence in backyard

11. Clean up existing beds, mulch, add weed blocker

12. Install drip system for new beds

13. Move 3x3 raised bed
Update - waiting until onions are ready. 2 popped up unexpectedly from last years plantings.

X 14. Plant herb garden

No problem, piece of cake!