Stuff and Such

"Elvas" Amaryllis

Here is my attempt at layering my honeysuckle vine.  I made a hole in the bottom side and ran a honeysuckle branch throught it. I removed the leaves from the branch that would be touching the soil and then I added potting soil.  I haven't been watering it as I should since it is on the side of the house.  We'll see if this works.  I have two of these.

More Sweet Peas to plant.

I wasn't able to soak the peas so I decided to nick them with sharp scissors.  Here is what it looks like with part of its shell missing.  Please ignore my soiled nails.  Macro lens,"They show all the dirt!" ;-)

I wanted to clean the glass before taking the picture but I would have lost the moment.

Niko is wanting out and Coco is wanting in. I haven't been taking Niko out to the greenhouse because the other day she escaped.  So I had Niko on my finger and we're walking to the greenhouse and she has one of her want-to-fly spasms and  takes off.  Over the neighbors fence and off she went.  I could hear her screaming in distress as she was flying.  I ran to the front yard and down the street.  I found her a block away on someones front lawn, screaming and disortientated.  She's had the tast of freedom and has been trying to escape ever since.  I wish I could give her her freedom, but she wouldn't survive out there.

I started these other seedlings and more to come.

My shelves are getting packed with seedlings and I'm running out of room. Oh, and I still need to make room for summer veggies.

Notice how clean my workbench appears thanks to the shelves(garage sale find) I installed on the left side. 

The thermostat will make it alot easier to control the temperature in the greenhouse which I'm planning to use only when I start my warm season veggies, since I no longer will be starting them in the house.  I need to mount it on a piece of wood first then to the greenhouse.  I'll do this another day since it will take thought to decide where to place it.

The milkhouse heater will be plugged into the thermostat. I'm glad I won't need to do any hardwiring.

My daughter and I went for a bike ride and we watched the geese sunbath.

Till next time.

Happy Gardening!

Niko, Chioggia beets, and such

I was able to enjoy the sunny and cool winter day out in the garden today.  I removed some old kale and celery plants  left from last year and I added some manure and brown leaves to the garden bed.

This is "Niko" our greenhouse mascot. Isn't she adorable. She loves spending time in the greenhouse munching on kale. If I try to take her away before she is ready, she runs to the other side of the basket to get away from me.

Niko

I wintersowed "Garden Bells" penstemon in the greenhouse a few days ago...

along with "Tutti Frutti" Lupine

Their home.

Some of my spanish onions and leeks have sprouted and I find myself having to fill in the empty spots with new seeds.  The first seeds I planted were a couple of years old, hence the low germination rate.  I'm trying to use up all my old seeds.  I know, I should have sowed them in a papertowel first.

Sweet Pea "Perfume Delight"

I find it hard to reset the low and high indicators on this thermometer.  First, not that it matters much, but the blue indicator needs to be on the low side and vice verse with the green...and when you get both needles on the same side of the red one, it is hard to seperate them.  I need to ask someone that has one of these how they work it.

My new coat hook.  Now I have a place to hang my coat, hat, and camera while I'm working in the greenhouse.

Sedum "Autumn Fire" from last year; and waiting for me to make a bed for them to lie in...I need to continue the arduous task of removing the landcaping rocks and fabric.   

My "Blue Flax" have sprouted along with my "Portulaca", and "Bombast Poppies." The last two are not pictured. 

My surprise "Chioggia" beet harvest.  Last year, I remember sowing these seeds and forgeting to label them.   I thought they were swiss chard and I remember not being impressed by their leaves.  Well no wonder.  By the way,  I had some for lunch and they were deliciously tender.

Finally, I have renewed hope .  My "Elvas" amaryllis is growing.

I got a great deal from the local garden center... I know they look dead in the picture but they are alive and healthy.  I bought six 6packs of strawberries for .25 cents each. Ahh love the deals.  I planted two packs in my garden and the rest are for the Pathfinders' garden  I will be helping to start this spring.

Here is the before picture of another thrift store treasure.  I bought this wood planter for five dollars and I am in the process of painting it white.  It will be a window box.  I can't wait till it's up. More pic to come.

This is "Coco" our rescued dog.   Look at those innocent eyes.

Till next time.  Have a wonderful weekend.