For the past 20 years we received occasional packets of flower seeds.
About 30 years ago we tried planting flowers from seeds and they all
died. So, we just threw the seed packets into a box and left them there.

This spring I was cleaning the attic and I found the box of seeds. I
was going to throw them away. Jackie suggested that I try planting
them. We got all the stuff to plant window boxes (expensive) and
planted the seeds. The seeds were so old that we didn't expect much
and based on our past attempts we really expected just healthy dirt.

We have been watching the seeds grow. At first we were thrilled when
one morning we saw two cotelydons break threw the surface. Then we
counted daily the number of plants. In 6 flower boxes we began to get
3 in one, 2 in another, 1 in a third, and the other 3 were empty. As
they increased in number we gave up counting the first 3 boxes as
there were too many. The last 3 boxes gradually increased until we had
to stop counting them, too.

Now we check every morning to see the new blooms. It isn't as
thrilling as welcoming a grandchild into the family, but it helps us
feel that life is wonderful.

Shalom,
Chuck