Autumn is Special & the Seedlings

It's the day after Thanksgiving and this is the day I enjoy best because I can relax and really enjoy it. Its cold outside 32 degrees but a beautiful sunny day with blue skies and a light wind. I would love to go out into the yard and rake leaves and clean up some of the pots from summer but maybe tomorrow. I want to relish the warmth of today inside by a fire if I ever get it lit. I have some fat wood to start it but it needs to be cut. 

My car has never given me trouble except for a new battery and replacing the tires. Last night when I went out to start it to take my dad home it wouldn't start. I was not going to be outdone and it started drove fine there and back. I just got a battery in May. The battery died the day of my mother's funeral. I hope it's not time for a new car. I've never had real car problems.

A surprise delivery today, seeds. I ordered more geraniums because I've had a problem with the seeds from Swallowtail. I thought it was the seeds because several germinated and then lost their seed leaves; just disappeared. Some germinated and were yellow. It could be the seeds since I started with new unused trays. I don't know if I'll end up with any that reach adulthood so since it's early I ordered more to start. The first seedlings germinated in 2 days so I thought all would but that didn't happen. They're still germinating slowly. 

Today I just removed the humidity tray but didn't remove them from the heat mat. When I removed 4 seedlings that germinated the first 3 died and the other 2 are struggling. I will have to rethink what to do before I plant the new seeds. Would love to sow seeds today but would have to clean and bleach old seed trays. Not likely to get done today. I'm excited about the yellow foxglove seeds. I grew one plant to adulthood several years ago and it was beautiful. They're one of my favorites although I have many favorites.  

I forgot Black Friday. Never thought to look and see if seed trays and other gardening items are discounted. Dangerous thought, bye!

My view from the couch. Nope, ginger ale. Would love a Pepsi or some sweet tea. Always nice to drink beverages from a pretty glass. I know, water is best. I do drink a lot already and don't have to worry about calories and sugar.  

One plate still set for a guest tonight.

Dragon wing begonia. You can see them now. They actually started out smaller. I have found these trays again from Burpee. They're too high though even on Amazon. I will order some in December for starting other seeds because you can keep seeds in these trays for a long time before transplanting. I counted about 20. I'll have patience and wait on the last 5. If not it's still a good germination rate. These do well from seed. I won't need to buy them again. The other 2 begonia peach and go go yellow have not germinated. Still holding out hope that they will.

Maverick geraniums. Still more to germinate. They don't look too promising. We'll see what happens.

I had to remove the top because they were touching it.

Two more to germinate

Seeds from Outsidepride. I've never ordered from them but most other companies I order from had sold out the type of geraniums I wanted. I read the reviews on Dave's garden watch before I ordered.

I hope these do well. They should. Coleus usually aren't fussy.

I had a good variety that year. Still have seeds from that year. Will sow them this year and see what comes up.

Seedlings and some others marigold and a plant from blue stone perennials  that I didn't grow. This was a good seed growing year for me.

Geraniums seedlings. They were huge by the end of summer.

My vinca and impatien seedlings

I can't believe I grew that foxglove from seed, but I did. It was small the first year. Lived all winter with leaves outside then increased in size and bloomed the second year. I was horrified when it started to die after blooming then I remembered that they are biennial. Would never buy one for the price they charge for one when it can be grown form seed with some patience.There were lots of seeds but sometimes plants may be sterile. Not one seedling germinated. If you look closely  there is also a small lambs ear seedling in front of the dusty miller. This is the huge lambs ear I now have out front. I'm amazed what can be grown from seed.

Happy Thanksgiving

It's magical to walk on fresh fallen show, feel the crispness and almost a freshness to the air. About three inches of snow greeted me and family this morning while visiting my mother's grave. Philly had it's second weather event yesterday and last night with rain, sleet, and snow. I hope your day was enjoyed with family. 

Would have loved gourds and pumpkins on the table but you have to buy them early because I couldn't find any in the store, only Christmas decorations.

Nothing like corn bread in a iron skillet. It was delicious. Prepared by my daughter.

Do you make dressing? I normally also make the bread but today we just made the corn bread and bought packaged cubed bread. A Some stock, sauteed onions and celery, seasonings, and giblets and ready for the oven.

Fresh Sage

Fresh fruit and nuts. This is a tradition from my mom. We always had fruit and nuts.

Flowers for the dining room table.

And some for the living room.

It was a good day for a fire but my dad had oxygen and flames around it can cause and explosion. Maybe tomorrow while I rest up. Holidays are fun and a wonderful time with family but the preparation is horrendous. Couldn't have done it this year without my daughter. Thank you Sydney.

Added a nice tough to the bathroom. Had I planned I would have located a nice cache pot and removed the orange wrapper. No time for this today.

Out Front- Bulb Planting

Most of the leaves gone. A beautiful day.

Had to revamp the planter. Several days of frost had the mums I planted looking horrible. Used what I had and it looks much better. I like the Algerian ivy. Hope to find more in the spring to add to other planters. I clipped off the licorice plant but left the root. I wonder if it'll over winter. Believe it's in the same family as dusty miller which is perennial in my region. Next week, it'll be a winter planter for Christmas until spring. I usually like to decorate the day after Thanksgiving for Christmas. I can't believe Christmas trees have been in stores for weeks.

When I came out the door on Saturday soil was flying every where. I looked up, hate I didn't have time to go in and get my camera. Squirrel, huge one digging up and eating my tulip bulbs. He looked at me, I looked at him. You think he moved? Hopped into my tree when he got ready. I'm so upset because they were pretty tulips. I'll add more when the weather allows, not today. Bought blood meal yesterday which is supposed to deter them. I'll let you know how it works.

I wondered why the shrubs are leaning forward every time I see them, squirrels. They're a nightmare.

The ballerina tulips and narcissus added to pots. Topped off with blood meal. Supposedly to deter squirrels. We'll see. I'll really be upset if they eat my tulips.

Narcissus. I hope they survive. I've never had them in the front flower bed.

Tulips, red again. They were pretty last year with the purple perennials.

I removed the mums and filled in with some fresh soil. Also added a few tulips. The pansies look beat already and it's not even spring. I guess its the frost and temperatures in the 20's at night. 

Bubs added then soil and firmed down. I also planted some allium.

I planted bulbs in the empty spots. Didn't take a before picture. The flower bed was filled with leaves and dried foliage from the perennials. I topped many off and trimmed some of the evergreens.

Frost does not kill the ivy.

Heuchera still looking good in spite of frost and the leaves not too burned yet from the cold.

Pansy, ajuga, and the leaves of a poppy.

Bulbs squeezed into small spaces.

Have you planted your bulbs?

Smells of Spring

Very aromatic and tall over 1 foot. I love the smell. The flowers are so pretty. I have one more pack of ziva and 6 bulbs of another type to force. I''ll start some soon for December and the others for January. I've never forced tulips inside but I may try this year. I really don't want to force anything in soil since fungus gnats haven't been a problem this fall. I think forcing the paper whites in water helped. If they are in  the house plants I've noticed very few. Hope it stays that way.

I removed the few geraniums that germinated from the tray and heat. Can you see the one in the middle. That's a defective seed it had no head. I'm not sure how these will do they look strange to me. I also put the ones that have not germinated in dark. They weren't coming up and I read where dark may aid germination. More seeds did germinate. Lets see how they do by this weekend. I think I need to order more seeds. I don't know how these will do. If I do it won't be from Swallow Tail Seeds. These are mavrick different from they type I grew last year and from a different company. 

Some of the dragon wing begonias have germinated. Tiny like last year. I planted 25 seeds but not many have germinated yet. I hope most do so I have a nice flat of plants come spring. I'll show them on the weekend.

Seed Starting-Pansies

I had 3 packs of Swiss giants so I only used 1. Seeds are from Burpee, Baker Creek, Botanical Interest, and some generic suppliers. Some are old seeds and some from this year. I love blue pansies but I haven't had any success with Botanical Interest, got the blues seeds. Lets see if I get any. Trying to use seeds that I have so I can use up some of my seeds. I can get excited when I see seeds and over buy when I can't possibly plant them all. Many have sun requirements and of course my yard is dappled shade. I like trying different annuals.

I added water to these pellets yesterday morning but didn't sow seeds until today. I drop seeds directly from their seed pack onto the coir. Not a good idea but lets see what comes up. I surface sowed them and then lightly spritzed with water although the coir is nice and moist. I put the humidity dome on. 

They require darkness to germinate so I usually cover with a black plastic bag. Keep checking for germination and remove the cover when the seeds start to germinate. It's recommended to place them in a cool environment such as a window or unheated room. I won't be placing them in the refrigerator or on my porch which I have done before. If it's too cold they won't germinate I've found. I'll keep them on my dining table and when they start to germinate, move them to the bedroom window. Room temperature made the best success getting seeds to germinate for me in the past. The year I had the greatest success with seedlings was when I grew them on the window seal. No additional light needed, only the winter sun. Wish me luck this year. It's fun to try. I'll be looking to see what seeds you start.

The geranium seedlings are doing good but I'm still waiting for more germination. Had to ask myself why aren't the rest of the seeds germinating? They are covered by a humidity dome that keeps in moisture. I decided to spritz the pellets that had not germinated with water. That may be a problem with the pellets not being wet enough. Lets see if this helps. I'll also need to move the germinated seedlings to another container because they are touching the top of the humidity dome. I'll leave other seedlings there till they germinate. Both containers are still on the heat mat.