(Via Snappy's Gardens Blog)

Posted by admin to hyacinths, work on 2008-01-06, 22:15:00

The Pink Pearl Hyacinth yesterday. I love how compact the flowers are, and there angular curves. The Blue ones are not anywhere near developing the flowers yet. They have the green leaves but no buds showing.
The Snappy one is about to go to work for a long day. Back around 9pm tonight.Its raining outside and very windy .
The garden is wet and windswept...

(Via Comments for Anne's Garden)

Posted by admin to Uncategorized on 2008-01-06, 21:15:11

I’m envious … you have blooms in your garden! That bark is really cool … I’m hope you’ll keep on posting - more flowers will be great.

Happy New Year!!

(Via Gardening Question of the Day (from the Old Farmer's Almanac))

Posted by admin to Uncategorized on 2008-01-06, 20:00:00

Is it true that one way to get the best flavor from tomatoes is to bury a fish head beneath the tomato plant? (answer).

From The Old Farmer's Almanac.

(Via Gardening Tips 'n' Ideas)

Posted by admin to Propagation Techniques on 2008-01-06, 19:47:15

One of the many joys of having friends and family who also garden is the oft chance of scoring some plant material to try your hand at propagating. And for most of us gardeners the plant specimen doesn't necessarily have to be one we want in our garden, it's merely the enjoyment of successfully reproducing something.

Fortunately for me, my MIL has been growing a plant that I've wanted to grow in my tropical garden. Plumeria rubra is the common frangipani and has been on my "TO-GET" list for some time. However, I didn't just want to the very common white flowered variety but was more interested in the coral-shades. I had seen frangipanis growing my MIL's garden before but never observed it flowering to know whether it was the correct colour.

On a recent trip to visit the in-laws in Perth, I took a small cutting - certainly not big enough to notice that it had gone missing - and began drying it out. The wound excretes a fair amount of milky sap that can be quite painful if it comes in contact with the skin. This sap needs to stop flowing and the wound harden over before it can be planted out.

Once this process has occurred the stalk can be placed into some potting medium and kept moist and out of full-sun. While it's best to start the process while the frangipani is dormant - during the winter months - it can still be successfully propagated in its flowering season.

TIP: Don't take a cutting longer than 20cm in length and certainly don't pick one that is carrying flowers.

As we head towards winter, this cutting will lose its few leaves and be a bare stick but will regain its crowning glory again in spring. Hopefully, it might even flower but they don't usually within the first two years.

Here's some more info on growing frangipanis.

(Via Gardening Tips 'n' Ideas)

Posted by admin to Propagation Techniques on 2008-01-06, 19:47:15

One of the many joys of having friends and family who also garden is the oft chance of scoring some plant material to try your hand at propagating. And for most of us gardeners the plant specimen doesn't necessarily have to be one we want in our garden, it's merely the enjoyment of successfully reproducing something.

Fortunately for me, my MIL has been growing a plant that I've wanted to grow in my tropical garden. Plumeria rubra is the common frangipani and has been on my "TO-GET" list for some time. However, I didn't just want to the very common white flowered variety but was more interested in the coral-shades. I had seen frangipanis growing my MIL's garden before but never observed it flowering to know whether it was the correct colour.

On a recent trip to visit the in-laws in Perth, I took a small cutting - certainly not big enough to notice that it had gone missing - and began drying it out. The wound excretes a fair amount of milky sap that can be quite painful if it comes in contact with the skin. This sap needs to stop flowing and the wound harden over before it can be planted out.

Once this process has occurred the stalk can be placed into some potting medium and kept moist and out of full-sun. While it's best to start the process while the frangipani is dormant - during the winter months - it can still be successfully propagated in its flowering season.

TIP: Don't take a cutting longer than 20cm in length and certainly don't pick one that is carrying flowers.

As we head towards winter, this cutting will lose its few leaves and be a bare stick but will regain its crowning glory again in spring. Hopefully, it might even flower but they don't usually within the first two years.

Here's some more info on growing frangipanis.

(Via Comments for Anne's Garden)

Posted by admin to Uncategorized on 2008-01-06, 18:26:11

The bark picture is cool. Is that in your yard? I love the colors.

(Via Girl Gone Gardening)

Posted by admin to Flowers, Little Osa, chores, daylily, food, herbs, houseplants, purple, resolutions, seeds, snow, spring, veggies, weather, weeds on 2008-01-06, 13:48:00

58*, 87% humidity, S 16 mph wind, cloudy, FLOOD WATCH The snow is all gone, the ice is gone, and the air is a reasonable and mild temperature, only to get warmer tomorrow. It drives me nuts. It makes me want to grab the spade and start shoveling and to start weeding and planting and puttering. It's just cruel I tell you. Give me spring fever and then take it away later with more snow and ice.

(Via Snappy's Gardens Blog)

Posted by admin to Sunday, hellebore niger on 2008-01-06, 08:26:00

A Hellebore Niger is nearly in flower finally on this mild Sunday. I spent a few hours just watching the garden and the birds flying in and out of the bird table, whilst drinking Kenco coffee which almost has a chocolate taste to it.
The Sky was blue and the Sun actually came out for a while.
My neighbours two doors up took a hedge cutter last night, and decimated the hedge along the alley.
I thought the birds would be stressed but they hopped through the bare branches!
What a relaxing way to spend a quiet Sunday before the stresses of work on monday and tuesday.
I like the Quote "Poor Indeed is the garden in which birds find no home" (Abram L Urban).

(Via gardenauthor)

Posted by admin to Wilt Pruf, anti-desiccant, anti-transpirant on 2008-01-06, 07:36:00

No, this is not a Wilt-Pruf® ad, but since a picture is worth a thousand words, it serves as a reminder that this January thaw is the right time to apply, or perhaps reapply, an anti-desiccant, or anti-transpirant. Plants can experience debilitating moisture loss during extremes of heat, cold, high winds and in the transplanting process.

It makes sense that the plants most affected by the cold and harsh winds of winter, are broadleaf evergreens... rhododendron, azalea, andromeda, holly, etc. As the ground freezes, our plants are unable to draw up essential moisture, so the leaves begin to sacrifice stored moisture from their upper and lower stomata, under the winds of winter. Yes, the early and prolonged snow cover this season, does help, but the wise gardener applied an anti-dessicant to broadleaf evergreens and new plantings, last fall. Young trees with thin bark, rose canes and hydrangea stems will also benefit from this preventative measure.

When temperatures are around 40-50º, with no rain in the immediate forecast (foliage needs to dry thoroughly, before any precipitation), we have the ideal application time. Normally, an anti-desiccant is applied in late fall and again during the January thaw. Although Wilt-Pruf® lasts for 3-4 months, the second application is "insurance" well worth the effort, should we experience a harsh, prolonged winter. I particularly like this product, since it is all organic (derived from pine oil) and biodegradable. Read the advice pertaining to juniper, arborvitae, cedar and cypress (they are slow to harden-off and can be damaged by premature application/ I skip these altogether)... and don't spray blue spruce or other "blue" evergreens, whose color is a surface coating - your plants will be green for a while.

So, if you didn't protect those tender landscape specimens last fall, consider this your January reminder. If you did, why not apply a little more insurance?

©2008 Deb Lambert
Photo: Courtesy the Wilt-Pruf® website. For more product information, cultural tips and recommendations, click on Wilt-Pruf Protection