Last night, I took a good look at all my seeds, and these are beginning to sprout: Geraniums California poppies Dianthus Hibiscus Rudbeckia I do have some worries, though. The poppies had some mold (is it called “damping off?”) on some of the seeds. I took them out and rinsed them in a sieve, then…
Today, I started a whole bunch of seeds. In fact, I’ll have too many if they all germinate. I have them ziploc baggies between moist paper towels, some on a heating pad, others not, depending on their germination needs. Here are the varieties I am working with this year: Geranium ‘Orbit Apple Blossom’ (a kind…
Yesterday, I pruned my nectarine tree, the three butterfly bushes, and did some tinkering with the apple and cherry trees. The butterfly bushes (buddleia or sometimes called buddleja) are easy — you just chop ’em down to about 12″ high. They’re just a clump of old stubs now. But soon, new stalks will rise from…
After months of doubt my three clematis cuttings have proven they’re alive! I’m really excited about this! These are the ones I put in a cup of water last summer, and they eventually sprouted roots in the water. Last fall, I planted them in little pots, and they quickly went dormant. I was worried that…
I was looking at my clematis vines out front today, and I cracked one of the branches, so I brought it in and made new cuttings from it. I have about six of them in a jar with water now. Also, I noticed some new growth coming out of the ground from the clematis on…
About three days ago, I started some cuttings from a pink geranium (pelargonium) that we had in a pot on the back deck last summer. It was a plant Emma’s primary teacher at church gave her. The plant has been in the basement all winter, and it keeps flowering. Doing quite well. So, I made…
Yeah! This is really a sad statement about life in Utah, but today the temp got up to 44 degrees, and it felt great!!! The forecast is for mid-40s all week, and I am so stoked about that! Bring on the spring, that’s all I have to say. Maybe if the ground thaws a little,…
Today, I moved the maple seeds I’d been soaking into the refrigerator to stratify. I’m hoping most of the Japanese Maples will sprout sooner than 90 days, since they chilled outside for half the winter, but I have a hunch that chilling on the tree branches doesn’t help as much as chilling in moist soil….