...instead of a night owl. Well, I really wish I could be both, but I'm afraid I'd collapse in a very short while. I have much to do outside, and it would be so wonderful to get an early start. There are lots of seedlings to plant. They really should have been planted in October or November, but they were so teensy then. I'm sure they wouldn't have survived, and then December got in the way. So late though they may be this is what I need to plant. White double stock (matthiola), larkspur, lots of varieties of viola and pansy, old-fashioned mustard, China asters, Foxy foxglove, nigella, echinacea (White Swan & Pink Parasol), and maybe one or two phlox and lupin have survived. Oh, and some blue convolvulus for containers.
I also have spring bulbs, Florida-style. Coral, rose and pink Rain Lily (Zephyranthes Prairie Sunset, Rosea and Grandiflora), red and pink Spider Lily (Lycoris Radiata and Squamigera), Dutch Iris Apollo and Clusiana var. Chrysantha Tulips. A total of 98 bulbs!
I don't know about the rest of you, but I am very disorganized in the garden. I try very hard to be just the opposite, but I always end up going to and fro from spot to spot, forgetting this item over there, making multiple trips to that side of the garden (I only have two hands, you know) only to wind up spinning like a top, searching for something I left somewhere but where. It would probably work better if I plotted out on paper where I'm going to plant things, but really, who does that? I mean, I haven't memorized all the empty spots, large and small. Of course, I could take the pad of paper outside and place the seedlings in exactly the right spot on paper as I walk around the garden. Then I could put all the tools, amendments, seedlings, at al, on the wagon and go step by step from spot to spot. Or maybe even roll on my garden stool. No wasted steps, no desperate searching for lost whatevers. Hmmm, this might work.
Ya know, it's about time I started doing things the smart way instead of my way. Gee, I'm really liking this blogging thing.
I also have spring bulbs, Florida-style. Coral, rose and pink Rain Lily (Zephyranthes Prairie Sunset, Rosea and Grandiflora), red and pink Spider Lily (Lycoris Radiata and Squamigera), Dutch Iris Apollo and Clusiana var. Chrysantha Tulips. A total of 98 bulbs!
I don't know about the rest of you, but I am very disorganized in the garden. I try very hard to be just the opposite, but I always end up going to and fro from spot to spot, forgetting this item over there, making multiple trips to that side of the garden (I only have two hands, you know) only to wind up spinning like a top, searching for something I left somewhere but where. It would probably work better if I plotted out on paper where I'm going to plant things, but really, who does that? I mean, I haven't memorized all the empty spots, large and small. Of course, I could take the pad of paper outside and place the seedlings in exactly the right spot on paper as I walk around the garden. Then I could put all the tools, amendments, seedlings, at al, on the wagon and go step by step from spot to spot. Or maybe even roll on my garden stool. No wasted steps, no desperate searching for lost whatevers. Hmmm, this might work.
Ya know, it's about time I started doing things the smart way instead of my way. Gee, I'm really liking this blogging thing.
I am a very early riser...so this new 'partnership' will work for me. You post late a night, I read first thing in the morning, lol. May I ask why you didn't sow these seeds directly in the garden? My large sun garden looks like two cottage gardens with everything growing on top of everything, a new meaning to annual crowdscaping for sure. Trying to get some evergreen foundation plants, can't make up my mind though.
ReplyDeleteYes, Darla, you may ask. It's because I was chicken. I've only just started doing seeds and have never direct sowed. I was afraid of all sorts of things and, basically, sure the seeds would be wasted if I put them out there and they weren't deep enough, were too deep, too wet, too dry, too many. My garden is so small that it seems packed with just one or two plants in between the roses. Also, companion plants seem to get huge in my garden. I don't have room to do a swath of this and a swath of that, so I planted the ones that don't like to be transplanted in peat pots so I could just drop them in one at a time here and there between the roses, daylilies and other perennials. I'm very new to all this annual/perennial gardening stuff and am learning by trial and error. The problem was that I should have started my seeds in August, but it was so HOT and I was so unsure of myself that I procrastinated until mid-September. Then it took two full weekends on my screened porch to do them all. I was very proud of myself when it was done, but alas, first attempts at anything are iffy. Next year I'll know better especially after last weekend. I suddenly "got it" by seeing the baby plants up close. That's when I understood why this planting should have been done at least last month. We'll see if the foxglove and larkspur are far enough along to bloom before the heat comes. I thought seeds would be cheaper than buying plants, and maybe they are just a bit but not by much plus they're a lot of work. Not complaining. I will attempt direct sowing next year for sure. Another new task to learn. See you in the morning!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by my blog today. :)I love all your roses! So beautiful
ReplyDeleteI usually start seeds in the ground except for vegetables. It can be hit or miss sometimes though. I'm sure all your little seedlings will grow very fast once they are in the ground. I do know what you mean about walking back and forth while out in the garden. Sometimes my husband will say, "What did you do out there? I saw a lot of walking around." And, really, sometimes that's all I've done.
ReplyDeleteSherry, that made me laugh! I have misplaced my pruning shears so many times...
ReplyDeleteI envy your skill with seedlings - a couple of years ago I planted a row of nasturtiums and our gardeners thought they were weeds and took them all out. I never tried again..
"Gee, I'm really liking this blogging thing."
ReplyDeleteAnd you are good at it. You are a good writer, you have an entertaining style, and you have good knowledge to share. That's a win, IMO!
Paul B