Unpotting

As spring has the shoots and buds emerging outside, a similar revitalization is happening inside.
This weekend Morgan, Toby and I went to the Concordia greenhouse and returned to the lab with armfuls of young potted plants. We transplanted most of them into the soil yesterday. Toby scooped some leaves and soil from Parc Mont-Royal to combine with our peat moss, vermiculite and compost mix. He may have also scooped some worms that were dwelling there... the TML has unwittingly opened its doors to alien annelids!

The following plants are currently rooting in the lab space:

Rosemary
Lavender
Stinging nettle
Thyme
Aloe Vera
Basil
Spider Plants
Ivy
Norfolk Island Pine
Baby's Tears (Irish moss)
Feverfew
Asplenium fern (the plant that inspired Michael Barnsley's fern fractal)
Sage
Parsley
and a very thorny bush that I can't identify... I'll post photos soon so if anyone recognizes it please let me know!

We tried to get a wide variety, including both pleasant and not-so-pleasant plants (such as the nettles), herbs, vines, shrubs, both dry- and humid-climate types etc. We hope to put some beans and other vegetables in soon. Toby is also tending to two rice paddies along the floor by the windows. 
I believe the water tank and piping will be installed by May; for now we will be watering the plants by hand.

It all looks good. More than that it feels good. Come sit by the windows and you'll smell the basil!

Laura