“Nature does not hurry, yet everything
is accomplished.” Lao Tzu


Violets already!

Bulb Experiments 2010

Planted some daffodil bulbs in the gray containers. 2-3 levels of bulbs, but all daffodils. In one I added winter hardy pansies on top. I hope the bulbs bloom, and can move around the pansies!

Here are the red galvanized planters - I put in a black plastic liner made from garbage bag, first. These planters I did up with the crocus bulbs, and mini-tulips. Also, found the bulbs from last year's experiment, and added those to the mix too. The white planter has 4 big daffodil bulbs. I hope it's deep enough.

As The Year Turns

Lowe's had bags of bulbs marked down to $5 from $19.95. Big bags - 100 daffodils; 50 tulips. The salescleark in the garden area said they have a 1 year gaurantee and I could get my money back if they don't grow. Hmmm.... I asked if the quality of the green thumb was questioned. Nope - just bring back the receipt. With that, who could say no to a sack of $5 bulbs? And then some little sacks of crocus bulbs.

I had an amarylis and some paperwhites bulbs that came with coco fiber pellets. After rehydrating with water, and using what I needed, I had leftovers that I can use for bulbs.

Freddies, getting rid of their Christmas stuff, had a couple of red galvanized containers, and a cute ceramic reen planter with a green base. Now I have the fixings for my winter container experiments.

I mixed the coco fiber with a big scoop of potting soil. Put some rocks in the bottom, then some of this potting mix. Some bulb food. Bulbs. More potting mix. Top off with some rocks. Half cup of water.

I put this container in a box, surrounding the planter with some straw. I'll give it to my neighbors for New Year's and hope it will bloom in spring!

Snome

A blanket of 3 inches of snow at the end of December.

The storm was short-lived.

2+ days, and it's still on the ground.

Temp today upper 40s.

Autumn Flowers

This is a Gazania blossom.
They bloom for a day, and then close up at night. Open next day and that's about it. I don't like them so much because they don't last very long. I hope I remember this when I buy plants next spring!

This next photo is meant to show the rain drops collected on this leaf. I don't remember the name of the plant, but it's a foliage plant.
I do like this one alot. Produced a good quantity of green under brush for the container.

I planted a couple containers of pansies, violas and mums with some bugle weed, and ornamental grass. The pansy is a tough plant from my experience. Some have lasted since spring when first planted. Lasted through the heat and all.

Origin of the word Pansy: c.1450, from M.Fr. pensée "a pansy," lit. "thought, remembrance," from fem. pp. of penser "to think," from L. pensare "consider," freq. of pendere "to weigh." So called because it was regarded as a symbol of thought or remembrance.

Needle Drop

What we have here is something called natural needle drop. This is the ponderosa pine that blossomed back in the spring and had magenta colored cones - also a natural process every couple years.

Pine trees drop needles every fall. Ponderosa's keep needles for about 4 yrs - these needles you see on the ground first appeared on the tree 2005-06. If the needle drop is more than usual, it means that 4 yrs ago was a great year for growing needles.

Sometimes needle drop happens over several weeks, or it can happen much more quickly. They say it depends on the weather. Last Sunday, I was mowing the lawn and there was no needle drop. Today, voila!

1st Blue

September 29 - First blueberry! It was sweet and ripe. This is the extent of the blueberry crop - yes, two (2) berries. But, since they usually don't bear fruit the first year, I hear, then this crop is overflowing!

Weather has taken a turn. Weekend was up to 80F. As of Monday, we have upper 40s, low 50s in the morning and high of 60ish. Today, sprinkles only.