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.

Autumn In the City

What is fall without pansies. You hate them. That's okay.

Autumn at my house minus corn stalks. They haven't been plentiful this year but I'll find some for the door soon. Yesterday I spent time cleaning up the flower bed, pulled zinnias, and cut perennials low. It's looks better because it was wild and the zinnas huge but covered in powdery mildew.

A small boarder to deter cats and those walking dogs from using it.

Lantana always does well.

Dusty miller took all season to get to some size. It's hard here so it should return for another season.

Finally planted amsonia. Hopefully it has enough time to make new roots and adjust to where it's planted before winter. In the spring I look forward to true blue flowering blooms.

Two pieces of tiny fencing to try to deter cats from using the flower bed as a litter box. I should have enough to fence in the boarder but have to go out to the yard to get it.

This morning when I opened the front door to take pictures, a brown praying mantis met me on the yellow mum. I guess depositing it's eggs. I wondered what happened to them over winter and found that they mate, eat the male and deposit their eggs on trees and shrubs then die. The eggs hatch in the spring. Neighborhood boys also saw it. I asked them not to harm it and they returned to their scooters and playing. Hopefully this will give it time to escape before they return.

Black eyed Susan seed heads.

 

I cut them before pulling and brought onto the porch. Can't wait until next spring for more.

I had herbs and lettuce here but they did awful in our heat so I removed them.

Can't believe it's been so hot that the first pumpkin I bought died. Completely rotted on the porch without warning. The porch is smelly from the juices although I cleaned up. Hopefully the smell will wear out soon. I bought this one yesterday. Last fall pumpkins and gourds were more expensive maybe due to poor yield due to the weather but this year they're much more reasonable.

I have to take in alocasia and bird of paradise. I've been spraying it for insects. Not the spider killer and organic spray and systemic. The spray is for the porch in the corner where spiders seem to love the porch.

I've been preparing the few houseplants I have on the porch to come inside. Alocasia, bird of paradise, and urn plant. Now ready to come inside. I've been treating them for weeks with spray and a organic systemic granules.

Haven't treated my pothos yet but need to start. Our weather has been from extreme heat still to cooler fall like days. One morning soon they'll be frost.

Wouldn't dare take the Boston fern in for leaves to be everywhere. Also every flying insect that came onto the porch was drawn to this. It's no telling what's in the soil.

Got loose at the garden center again on Saturday. Didn't realize I bought the same narcissus last fall. And bought another pack of dwarf iris forgetting I'd already bought a pack of them already but I love them so it doesn't matter.  Orange tulips I buy every year this variety is available. They're my favorite. Still waiting for an order from Colorblends and another from Van Engelen.

I've never seen stakes this big and long. They'll give some support to my forced hyacinths soon to arrive. I ordered the exhibition variety so we shall see. Back out front.

Another aster from Primex Nursery. I also bought 2 other perennials that were discounted from 14.00 dollars to five. Two cardinal flower plants. Can't wait to see them next season. Hopefully they have time to develop a good root system before fall. I'll have to go back. I'm waiting to see if Brunnera Jack Frost will be discounted. Can't imagine paying 24.00's for one. They would go in the yard.

The plant in front is cardinal flower.

Will wait for frost for the vinca to die then I can add bulbs to the container.

Have to work on this container in the spring.

Salvia is still blooming nicely. And what's going on inside the house?

Lemon lime philodendron put on a pole. She's done good since coming to my house.

My hoya is still living and forming new growth.

Amaryllis doing good and has grown a baby. I'll have to put it in a larger pot before it's ready to bloom again.

Finally found  a place they seem to love, until it gets cold and the window is drafty. I shall see.

Maiden hair ferns still alive although they're starting to look different. Hope death isn't coming to them.

Harvest in the doll house. One room decorated so far.

Need to go. The baby's awake.

And I have to make the bed.

They already have their Christmas tree.

Sindapsus wasn't this big when I bought it. Guess it's time for a hanging pot.

Golden pothos is actually still alive. I forgot to turn her so each side gets sun and she lost some leaves.

You know we can't visit without something fresh.

That's my favorite one.

Lets visit again soon.