Tag Archives: backyardgarden

Ye Olde Garden

2021 February Seed and Plant Purchases

There are still plenty of work to be done to clear the beds of storm debris and frost damaged plants. But the seed starting bug has already bitten me hard.

End of January, I had already started a batch of veggie soil blocks which include tomatoes, habaneros, bok choy, lettuces, spinach, bunching onions, and eggplant. I was lucky enough to source most of the seed from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, who had them in stock at the time.

I have perennial and annual flowers started in soil blocks as we end February in a flurry of garden prepping.

But of course, there are never enough seeds to start and plant.

From Annie’s Annuals (my first time ordering with this company):

DescriptionQty
Echeveria agavoides ‘Lipstick’2
Camissonia cheiranthifolia “Beach Primrose”2
Aeonium ‘Jack Catlin’2
Lupinus regalis ‘Gallery Yellow’ “Lupine”2
Lupinus regalis ‘Morello Cherry’ “Lupine”2
Scabiosa atropurpurea ‘Scarlet’2

From Botanical Interests:

DescriptionQty
Diablo Cosmos Seeds4
Double Click Blend Cosmos Seeds2
Fireball Blend Zinnia Seeds4
Lemon & Tangerine Gems Signet Marigold Seeds4
Miss Jekyll Blend Love-In-A-Mist Seeds – Conventional Heirloom2
Sensation Blend Cosmos Seeds – Conventional Heirloom2

I’m not the only one with a gardening bug. Seed companies and online plant purveyors have been hammered by the pandemic demand; most are advertising low inventories and out of stock items. My normal go-to vendors are struggling to keep up with the demand, I’m having a hard time filling out my wish list. Meanwhile, local nurseries are still recovering from the winter storm, so inventories might still be scarce as of this writing.

If I do find something I want, it’s usually through Amazon and I’m highly suspect of the quality. I’m still frustrated by the habanero pepper seeds I obtained through there; germination rates are very low, even after re-sow attempts as we are enter the 4th week since I planted them. I plan on moving them onto my growing stand with the powerful lights to see if that will spur them into germination.

More to come.

Ye Olde Garden

#2021snowpocalypse

As evidenced on my Instagram feed, my garden experienced the worst temperature extremes that Texas endured in the new year. We saw the lowest temperature I’ve ever witnessed in all the years I’ve lived in North Texas: -1F.

The historic winter storm knocked out power, water and cell data for 2 days. Our yard was buried in snow for at least 4 days. The community pond was completely frozen over.

Feb 16 Tannery Lake completely frozen over

The outdoor greenhouse tent could not sustain the plants housed within especially with no power to heat the space. Similarly, my garage was plunged in cold and darkness, freezing the most sensitive plants.

Feb 17 Weather damaged plants in stock tank and greenhouse tent

I’m still tallying the losses. The weekend following the storm, we set about to pruning the roses, and removed some dead branches and debris from the front yard. Most of the snow had begun to disappear by this time.

Feb 19 snow slowly melting away from front yard path
Feb 20 Tannery Lake still icy in some patches

Frost hardiness for some plants seem hit or miss. I had put out some nasturtium seedlings earlier in the year; those were a loss. But I also planted out some romaine lettuce seedlings, and they seemed to have survived.

Feb 21 stock tanks and backyard beds

Needless to say, this means more seed starting and emptying pots to make way for new plants.

Looking ahead at the forecast, it seems that we will be seeing highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s beginning the second week of March. I’m already thinking about all the gardening tasks I have to do to prep the beds to receive new plants.

Ye Olde Garden

Milkweed ID needed

I need help figuring out what milkweed is growing in my beds. I started milkweed in 2018 which found its way into the backyard. I also bought and transplanted other specimens as well.

The only ID I’m certain of is the variegated butterfly weed which overwintered in the garage. The Home Depot version lists as Butterfly Kisses, but it didn’t stop me from picking up another variegated milkweed from North Haven Gardens, Monarch’s Promise. Maybe they’re one and the same.

Previous year potted milkweed
2020 New planting of Monarch’s Promise

Anyway, the following milkweed springing up from my beds are defying attempts to identify them properly.

  • Mystery Milkweed #1 in Long Bed (a)
  • Mystery Milkweed #1 in Long Bed (b)
Mystery Milkweed #1 in Long Bed
  • Mystery Milkweed #2 in Rogue Bed (a)
  • Mystery Milkweed #2 in Rogue Bed (b)
Mystery Milkweed #2 in Rogue Bed

True to the Rogue bed’s name, milkweed #2 appears to have reseeded rogue, with over a half dozen volunteer starts. The young leaves start out green which mature to the gray-green color seen in the pics.

Then there is the one potted milkweed that I can’t recall what it is. But I’m glad it emerged, suggesting that garage overwintering suits these plants. Now if I can only remember what it is. Hint: I bought 3 packets of Botanical Interests milkweed seed — Common (A. syriaca), Showy (A. speciosa) and Irresistible Blend (A. incarnata). If I remember right, one of the 3 proved difficult to germinate and didn’t take to water sowing at all.

Mystery Milkweed #3 in a pot