Pelargoniums/Seedlings

It's a miraculous process to see something living grow from a tiny seed and become a plant and then bloom or in the case of vegetables produce food. But I'm just planting my pelargonium seedlings. And, getting excited to start some seedlings this summer which will be a first for me.  My seed shelf is finally clear and can be cleaned for the next round of seedlings. My foxglove seedlings are beautiful out front but those in the yard are still tiny and eaten by slugs or snails. So I plan to start more and get them to a good size before planting them in the yard in the Autumn. Hopefully they'll have time to develop a good root system and they'll be less pest to eat them before the weather turns cold.

Pelargonium summer showers will be put in 1 hanging basked and zonal geraniums in another. They should have started blooming by now but I haven't been a good parent. The last coleus seedling indoors. That type usually get real bush like when planted in the ground.

Still tiny because I never transplanted it to a larger pot. Bad parent.

The last foxglove seedling. Ill leave it on the porch until it grow more then transplant it outdoors. Can't wait until next spring to see them bloom.

I added BT pellets and mixed them into the soil and watered them. Hopefully there won't be a problem with gnats when I bring them inside this fall. Have to find my gravel to add to the top of the soil to prevent gnats from laying eggs.

My hot pepper was covered in aphids. I washed them off with a stream of water then replanted and sprayed the leaves with a organic spray made of celery seeds and herbs. Lets see if it works.

Sitting here until I find another place for it. Hopefully it does okay because I wanted to save it to take indoors for the winter but the aphid problem with have to be controlled in order to do that.

Nicotiana seedlings never separated. I ordered 2 seedlings from on-line before I planted this pack of seedlings. Snails/slugs have eaten an entire one in the yard and the other isn't doing anything. I think I'll separate these and plant them out front in the only small space left and see if they'll grow and bloom before frost.

Basil and oxalis. It's evening now and a steady heavy rain is falling. The garden should love the rain. Blessings, and sleep well.

The Cardinal

Through the window. The cardinal was there also but Mr. squirrel is hogging the feeder. While the squirrel ate from the feeder, the cardinal ate the seeds dropped  onto the ground. The 2 seem to have developed an agreement because the bird didn't fly away. I went out several times to make him go so the cardinal had a chance to sit on the perch and feed. He actually came back with another squirrel as if they were going to do battle with me. I won this time but of course they always win because I can't sit her all day.

He's there. I'll wait until he returns.

I thought only robins were social but the cardinal returned while I quietly sat taking not the best pictures. He stopped several times and looked right at me. I believe God's creatures know whom they can trust.

The pictures don't capture how deep red his color is. He also sat on the table.

Niece to meet you also. He looked right at me. I'll get some decent pictures soon with another camera that can zoom in better.

It doesn't take much to make me happy. It's the small things like this. My sister has a robins nest with babies in her magnolia tree. I'll have to take some pictures soon. The robin is guarding her yard and makes a commotion when anyone comes into the yard. But we can view the nest through the kitchen window.

Shade Window Box

I've never paid that much for petunias.  For the window box in the sun.

Impatiens, begonia, vinca, and hosta for the window box in the shade and petunia, vinca, and sedum for the box in the sun.

Something that can tolerate sun for the box in direct sun, and hopefully it'll return in the spring.

Although I didn't show the box with it's spring planting, there were tulips, daffodils, and pansies.

Still trying to get perennials that will return each year in the boxes.

Vinca also added for something to trail over the side. Sweet potato vine may also be added. Then I planted the sun window box. Sorry thought about pictures after I finished cleaning up and shut the window.

Tomatoes and cucumbers planted. It's cool today and cloudy. They don't look as if they like the transition from the porch to the yard. All but one came from the nursery so they were already hardened off. Don't know if I'll get any cucumbers or tomatoes because of added shade from the canopy of trees. If I don't have branches from the tree cut this summer, I won't plant container vegetables next season. It also hasn't been the best spring for vegetables in my area. Too wet, and they didn't do well. Broccoli didn't thrive and formed smaller heads than I usually have then went to seed. I pulled the bolted lettuce today. Swiss chard is not thriving and still tiny.

There are a few blooms on the tomatoes but maybe that's from the sitting on the porch with bright sun. They're in the yard now. Lets see if they do anything.

This cabbage was suppose to be mature in 45 days. Oh well. I'll leave it and see what happens. I have 3 plants. This container had strawberries in it last year. A seedling left. It was tiny but it's grown.

Bloom on the hardy begonia.

Foxglove seedlings not doing well in the yard like the huge ones out front and something is eating them.

Seeds dropped from squirrels eating at the bird feeder drop to the ground and sprout. Lots of sunflower seedling are all over the yard.

Heuchera waited a whole year to be planted. Geraniums was also planted today.

Just plant the rhododendron a week ago and they've grown.

Something is also eating the begonia leaf.

Autumn fern surprised me and has sprouted some new leaves. From now on I'll cut the old foliage in the spring. so far my hosta has not been food for insects. It's early.

Hard to believe that I planted vinca in this container. It was empty except for 2 tiny ones today. I added coleus seedlings and lets see if these get destroyed. If they do, I have to come up with another plan. Today I removed 2 canna leaves with the bulbs eaten off. The bulbs were large.

Put 2 foxglove seedling her for now since the ones in the ground are being eaten and don't look good.

Bird seed on the table to refill the feeder. Slowly adding more mulch. I have to get another bag from the car.

This is the only way to keep squirrels from eating my lily and other bulbs waiting to come up although they've eaten ones in containers I didn't cover.

Going to have to work on my containers. Between squirrels, raccoons, and the weather things aren't looking like I'd like it to. Raccoons dig in the flower beds at night while I watch them from my window.