I also noted that the stem color of my Midnight Lightning eggplant chosen for the 5 gallon grow bag wasn't dark enough, so that plant (an off-color segregate) went into a smaller pot, and was replaced with a seedling that had a more appropriate color. Finally, thanks to my gardening friend Kent, I now have a sample of what some claim as the world's hottest pepper - Trinidad Scorpion Butch T - sitting in a 5 gallon pot at the end of one of my pepper rows. Which means I will likely have lots of seedlings available next year.
I find something to love in all of the various gardening phases, from variety selection, through seed starting and transplanting, to harvest and tasting. But my fondness for the few months of caring, observing, watching the surprisingly rapid development and growth of the plants, could be the greatest of all. Even though it has only been a week or so since doing the majority of planting, the tomato seedlings are thriving and beginning to show small buds, and the eggplant and peppers are exhibiting the great joy of escaping their small 3.5 inch pots and stretching their roots into the planting medium. Even as I realize that each garden will have its losses and disappointments - be it critters, disease, mixed up seedlings or just poor performance - this is the time when it all looks great and the possibilities of harvests to come are truly exciting.
Here are some rainy day pictures of how things look...