Forcing Paperwhites

I only bought 10 bulbs this year. These are the first 5. I'll wait a couple of weeks to force the next ones for Christmas. Last year's pea gravel that I wash with soap after the paperwhites finish. Sometimes I add charcoal first then the gravel to keep any odor down. Finally add water but only up to the basal plate. You don't want the bulbs to rot.

They were ready to develop root. All those in 2 days.

Onto the shelf until...

Invasion of the Bulbs

I really will try to control myself in the spring when bulb catalog's for fall start arriving. And people like me pre order their bulbs. Now where to put them all. I can find containers. Some will go out front and some for the porch, and some for containers in the yard. Don't know if I'll plant any in the ground after last year's feast. But maybe some of the hyacinths since the critters can't stand them.

My Color Blends order. It's better. Last year I had a plastic crate of bulbs. I've down sized.

Going to try these again. Last year they and every bulb I planted in the yard was eaten.

They're my favorite but I think I bought to many hyacinths.

Nice bandanna from Color Blends. It will be worn by me on one of my gardening days.

When I thought everything had arrived this box arrived after dark. Glad we were home because it's pouring rain outside.

Can't wait to see them in bloom I think I'll put them in soil since they're supposed to be larger and may need the weight of a pot and soil. So they'll spend winter on the sun porch.

It took learning to realize that white and lighter bloom hyacinth bulbs are white. Nothing is the matter with the bulb.

What made me buy a 48" allium? Should be beautiful. I'm excited.

They're had to be a special on alliums. Why did I get so many for a tiny flower bed? Hopefully no one will take them. I realized last spring that some of the ones planted out front were missing. Didn't realize it until I looked back at my blog. So this blog does have a purpose if only for me.

They're 3 but they look like the bulb was split in 3 parts. That's not fair.I guess we'll be planting bulbs soon. You want to join me?

You Forcing Yet

I've developed a bad habit the past few months. Can't seem to stay out of the nursery. My excuse. It's time for paper whites and amaryllis. So I had to go. Also bought some perennials and 2 button ferns. The last 2 I bought aren't doing well. My excuse. It's almost winter. A women has to keep busy indoors in the snow. You have my permission to do it also.

Some of my purchases.

Ten paper whites. A variety I've never had that don't get real tall. The name tag was in the basket but I can't remember now.

Firm and healthy.

The amaryllis is not with me as I write. I think the name is Genevese. It has a pinkish color that I think I'll like.

Red Lion

Brought some last fall for my brother. Potted them up and took them to his house. He took them out of the pot and squirrel's ate them. We shall try again this year. I also got a pack for me.

Couldn't pass up reduced priced shade perennials for the yard. I've been wanting some brunnera for a long time. Now lets see how they do in my yard in the spring. Perennials I bought this time last season did well this spring and summer. Hopefully these will also.

I bought 2 types. This one was not discounted, brunnera macrophylla.  Can't wait to see the delicate blue blooms in the spring.

Bought this one because it's a shade plant and has beautiful chartreuse colored leaves. I had no idea what I bought but I'll research it on the web. This is why you bring your smart phone when you go plant shopping. This is not native to the United States but to Japan, Korea and China. It grows 3-6 feet wide and tall but it's hardy in my area. This should be interesting to see.

Virginia chain fern is native to the United States although had I looked it up first, wouldn't have bought this one.

Nice discount.

The second brunnera. 

Maybe this wasn't a good idea either but next season will tell. It's supposed to be a storm starting tomorrow night into Thursday with rain and winds. I'd love to get these in the ground before the storm so they can benefit from the rain water.

Fire wood arrived Saturday. Hope you brought in your houseplants. I have 3 still to come in from my porch. There's still a little time at least they can't get frost on the porch. To think that some places have already had snow. Lots of snow.

A Rainy Day

Nothing like a holiday in the middle of the week and no work day. It's cloudy, windy, and rainy. So far the rain isn't  steady although I don't mind because I don't plan on leaving the house today. Awoke late and should have gotten out of the bed at seven when I first opened my eyes. I hate to miss hours in the day sleeping. Could have been talking to you, picking at my plants, or preparing breakfast. Came down stairs with an arm full of books, magazines, and computer. Do I actually think I'll get to all of them? Maybe a little bit out of each one.

It's time to prepare the house for winter. Have you started? Maybe you live in a region where there is no need. Still have to insulate 2 windows, put rugs on the floor and cover the window air conditioner units. And stock up on ice melt for the coming snow and ice. At least this year I'm working close to home and the snow and ice shouldn't present a problem driving to work because I can walk if I need to and leave the car parked. Pelargoniums ordered from Logee's Green House have to be removed from the window box to save for next spring. Did they trial like I hoped, no. And gloriosa lilies from the front flower bed. They were beautiful this summer. It's hard to believe Thanksgiving is next month, then Christmas, a new year, and spring again. The wonderful spring.

My outfit for the day. Fleece pajamas feel good on this cool day. Maybe I'll actually start a fire with the remainder of last years wood.

Green tea this morning. As I'm writing this it's after 12:00 and I've yet to have breakfast. Guess it'll be brunch. Probably scrambled eggs, toast, and watermelon. That's what I want.

In the house to my left side.

On the porch. 

Waiting for delivery of wood.

Have to bring the pothos in any day now if it goes below 50. The sun porch still gets as cold as outdoors.

Bought more pansies for outside than used so I planted them on the porch. I still have a six pack to plant somewhere other than the yard which I've been avoiding.

Not a pretty site. I've avoided it this season. Perennials on the table should have been planted already to give them time to develop roots in the soil. Hopefully they survive. I'll know by spring.

Can't kill impatiens or coleus although impatiens didn't bloom in our extreme temperature this summer. I expect lots of coleus seedlings on the ground when the soil warms up again.

Bulbs in the brown paper bag they arrived in waiting to be planted. Not including bulbs that should arrive soon. Still need to force hyacinths. I've disappointed myself because if I planted them when purchased I would have had blooms in time for Christmas. Next year is another season to get it right.

I'll remind myself not to buy more begonia bulbs in spring because they don't do well on the porch. I had one bloom and the pot didn't fill out at all. If I remove them to save for spring maybe they'll look better next time.

Coleus pulled from outside planter weeks ago. Dropping petals from the blooms. Maybe I can save some seeds from them.

I saved seeds from my zinnias and black eyed Susan's and accidentally threw them away. I left seed head from the Susan's in the flower bed for the birds this winter. Maybe we can share. Hopefully autumn has arrived in your area. In mine the trees aren't pretty shades of red, gold, and orange yet. Sure hope our strange year haven't affected the changing of the leaves but I think it did. Many leaves turned brown and fell already. It's still early.