Out in the Garden Again

Though it was in the 80’s this afternoon, it felt so good to be working outdoors in the garden again! I remembered why I like gardening so much; yes I enjoy watching things grow, seemingly out of nothing but I relish being outdoors surrounded by my plants, plants that I can nurture and arrange to my own design. In my garden, once I complete the necessary tasks, I can sit and just “be”. Today I got too late of a start to transplant my new additions, since transplanting needs to be done in the cooler parts of the day, but I did get all the plants that will be going outdoors, out there. This is a picture of the tight quarters before I arranged them. I did get them in a first round order though and I’ll show you that soon.

Comeback

I’m amazed at how well last year’s petunias are doing! I had cut them back to a bug-bitten nub and would normally have pulled the dead, brown crown out by now. But these, thanks in part to a mild winter, have come back strong and healthy--maybe even better than when I bought them (larger leaves, better branching). While the mild winter definitely benefited my garden in allowing several plants another round, the bugs may, unhappily, have a greater comeback as well. Some “visitor” has already been dining on the fuchsia delicacy of a petunia flower. I’m also hoping that a sweltering summer won’t wear down the plants—and us! Now that I’ve traveled and met an art deadline, I can concentrate on putting together this year’s garden. Today I’ll begin taking the wintered-over plants out so I can design the layout for sun needs, height and color flow.

Still Standing

Recently, I readied my plants for being home alone while we traveled. I watered them extra-well each day, three days before I left—to the point that they probably wanted to gag. Then I filled the water globes and stuck them in the pots of the plants most likely to dehydrate. This time I made sure to start a hole with a pencil before setting in the water globe—no more water-blocking soil up the tube. I had read about putting plastic bags around the pots to hold in water but I ran out of time before I got to that. I worried a little during the week I was away but asked the Lord to take care of my plants and knew I would just have to deal with whatever happened with them. When I returned, I found that all were still standing though the pentas were very dry, even shriveled but water soon revived them. I’m also concerned about the new orange hibiscus, which has dropped a number of buds though I furnished it with a water globe. It might need a larger, non-porous pot. All in all, the gardens fared well, the outdoor one getting a little rain on this rainy, gray day. I love my garden but when the Lord calls me to travel, I will do it and prepare the plants the best way I can. Blogger changed it's interface while I was away so I'm having to learn it's ways. Change can be good but sometimes the adage, "If it's not broken, don't fix it," is more appropriate.

Greater Backyard

From time to time I have the privilege of visiting large gardens that are either provided by the state or a private trust. I’m so thankful that these lands have been set aside and lovingly tended for our benefit. Those of us who live in “the treetops” especially need some gardeny terra firma to walk through and even sit in for awhile.

I don’t have time right now to look them up but I know there are studies concluding that when people spend more time outdoors, they’re happier and healthier. I know I am. Being in an outdoor garden setting, with some breathing room around, refreshes my soul. A mall just doesn’t do it.

Stay Awhile

My friend G. is always starting new plants—in the pots of her larger, older plants. With her in mind, as I’ve found severed spider plantlets, I’ve laid them on the soil in the large croton’s pot until I had a chance to pot them in their own home. They benefited from the croton’s watering and have stayed alive.

Then, closer to G.’s practice, I decided that they might actually look nice circling the pot and cascading their own babies down the side, so I dug little holes in the soil and tucked them in. One was so enterprising that its roots had already taken hold but I redirected it.

Night Watch

I finally remembered one night to photograph one of the prayer plants in its “prayer“ position. From its habit of folding its leaves upward at night came its name.


Lately I’ve noticed that the prayer plant’s news leaves are much larger and have darker markings than the older leaves. At first I couldn’t think of any conditions that were different, then I remembered that when I repotted it I used potting soil fortified with Miracle Gro. I normally opt for “plain” soil but only the fertilized kind was available at the big box store. So, I guess without trying, I’ve proved their claims. ;)

Begin Again

My oregano plants used to winter-over outdoors well and sprout new growth from the roots as long as I kept them watered. The last two years have been an exception; this year I found that the roots were as dead as the stems. So if I wanted fresh oregano (I enjoy it on open-faced avocado sandwiches and it’s my husband’s favorite herb for cooking), I’d have to buy a new one.


I enjoyed the yellow-green color of last year’s Golden Oregano so I bought another one this year. I brought it indoors during last week’s cold snap since it was newly planted and the garden center had it in a sheltered space. Oregano can dry out quickly indoors but it’s fine. I’m looking forward to lots of oregano-seasoned avocado sandwiches this summer!

Wrong Aroma

The honeysuckle is blooming! It certainly benefited from last night’s rain. Unfortunately, its alluring aroma has been overcome by acrid fumes that pervade the outer air and have taken over my indoor air as well. I don’t know if rubber is burning somewhere or if the light industry behind us is emitting chemical fumes.

Sadly, too many people don’t consider that we all (in a particular area) have to breathe the same air. And generally speaking, they are either in denial about the effects of their actions or they simply don’t care—or both. I’ve had too many encounters with dangerous fumes and the lack of caring on the fume-makers’ part to wave it off. It’s time for everyone to inform themselves of the dangers of chemical and mold fumes in order to protect themselves and the environment—and keep from harming others. How do you get informed? Put dangers of chemical fumes, into an internet search engine and many links will appear (the same for mold).

Our air could use a stiff breeze--but not too stiff.
I'm told that storms are coming.

It Worked!

I read or heard somewhere that if you plant the root end of a green onion, it would grow. I’m delighted to find that something I would normally throw away can grow food—even in a small garden (No I don’t compost, though I’ve read about putting earthworms in a plastic sweater box with holes drilled in it, to put under the kitchen sink. Nope, I’m not bringing worms into our home)! It's growing edible green leaves but I don't know if the white part below is growing. I'll likely keep cutting off the greens for cooking and let the plant stay to produce more.

It seems our cold snap is over; the common saying according to the weatherman is that you can’t plant anything until after tax day. Well hallelujah, today is our extended tax day and I’m glad to be done with it; now I have one more reason! Soon, I’ll be planting the outdoor garden in earnest. Stay tuned.

Four!

On Saturday, every time I caught a glimpse of the red hibiscus bush, I exclaimed in amazement, “Four!” Four blossoms opened on one day! I’ve never seen so many on this bush at one time—perhaps there’s some beauty queen competition now that there’s a new hibiscus in the garden. I know, I know, plants don’t think. I exclaimed in wonderment so many times that my husband was beginning to think I was losing my memory since each time it sounded like I hadn’t seen them before.☺ Wonder shouldn’t expire with familiarity.