Tag Archives: viola

And yet more March buds and blooms part deux

More new bloomers!

3/14/2012 March Buds and Blooms pt 2 (1) 3/14/2012 March Buds and Blooms pt 2 (2) 3/14/2012 March Buds and Blooms pt 2 (3) 3/14/2012 March Buds and Blooms pt 2 (4) 3/14/2012 March Buds and Blooms pt 2 (5) 3/14/2012 March Buds and Blooms pt 2 (6) 3/14/2012 March Buds and Blooms pt 2 (7) 3/14/2012 March Buds and Blooms pt 2 (8) 3/14/2012 March Buds and Blooms pt 2 (9) 3/14/2012 March Buds and Blooms pt 2 (10)

Ballerina white gaura in the purple bed (these have yet to be divided), standard purple oxalis, a surprise viola in the blue bed (returning from last year, another shot of the 3rd camellia, Thalia narcissus in full bloom and bud, azalea Autumn Embers (the newest shrub), green oxalis triangularis, and of course Bella purple lavender stoechas.

Don’t sneeze–tiny seeds ahead

On Monday, I got around to sowing some seeds in Jiffy 7 pellets. It was just my luck that I started with the super-tiny seeds while I had a cold from the morning jog. It took all my resolve not to sneeze while I was planting these near-microscopic seeds: Angelonia  Serena Blue, Snapdragon Bronze Dragon, Snapdragon Montego Sunset, Wizard Mix Coleus and last year’s Origami Red & White Columbine.

Some time last week, I also took some cuttings of the Chocolate Chip ajuga which have been merrily putting out new growth in their temporary pots; as well as cuttings of lime thyme and variegated lemon thyme. The original parent lime thyme was especially vigorous and overflowing in its cinderblock space. Amazing fragrance this little herb has. I was using it to give the pups a lime thyme herb brushing.

This morning I planted 3 leek roots (from this weekend’s Spring Soup recipe that called for spinach, asparagus, and leeks) in the herb garden. Even while it was sitting in the fridge all weekend long, new roots began to appear. From what I read, leeks are vigorous perennials, so I am looking forward to watching them grow.

No pictures today; the red and white pansies are blooming, as well as the purple loropetalum and the various dianthus in the lily and blue beds. The Valentine dianthuses are especially pretty now that they’ve had a full year to grow into their new spots. The remaining three Valentines sitting in the blue bed will have to be moved, perhaps in the front yard bed to complement the coreopsis. I do need to find out if I can divide those winter coreopsis.

Flax and marigold seeds to be popping up here and there (blue bed and tree ring). I have yet to see if the viola I sowed last month are coming up–so far no evidence of them doing so. I’ve got three Sorbet viola seed packets that I’m still deciding on–most likely I will attempt to sow them indoors. The sweet alyssum Pastel Carpet will be sown outdoors–another attempt at trying this–while it’s still cool which will hopefully give them a better start.

Still have zinnias, gomphrenas, and eggplant to plant. I will wait on planting them mid-March since they are typically warm weather plants. However I should get around to planting the Chinese broccoli and baby bok choy as soon as our new veggie bed is laid out. Problem is: when? Two tree stumps are undermining our efforts to prep a new bed.

Wishlist plant of the day: variegated azalea Girard’s Variegated Gem and Silver Sword. More reading on variegated azaleas.

Seeds! 2012 Purchases

From Parks I ordered the following:

1. ZINNIA ZAHARA STARLIGHT ROSE (51991) Qty : 1
2. SWEET ALYSSUM PASTEL CARPET (0063) Qty : 4
3. ZINNIA RED SPIDER (2233) Qty : 1
4. ANGELONIA SERENA BLUE PELLETED SEED (51031) Qty : 1
5. COREOPSIS ROULETTE (51117) Qty : 1
6. SNAPDRAGON BRONZE DRAGON (51714) Qty : 1
7. ZINNIA PROFUSION SUNRISE MIX HYBRID (51986) Qty : 2

From Stokes:

  1. Cosmic Red Cosmos
  2. Wizard Mix Coleus
  3. Woodcreek White Gomphrena
  4. Woodcreek Red Gomphrena
  5. Banana Cream Sorbet Viola
  6. Sorbet Delft Blue XP Viola
  7. Sorbet Blue Blotch XP Viola
  8. Summer Jewel Red Salvia
  9. Dreams Patriot Mix Petunia
  10. Montego Sunset Snapdragon
  11. Bride Eggplant
  12. Guy Lon Chinese Broccoli

I also picked up a set of 50 Jiffy 7 pellets.

Well, I also had hoped to throw in some onions in there, but it doesn’t look like we’ll have much success digging out those tree stumps any time soon.

Winter growth and winter colors

The mild weather this week gave us plenty of colors to look at. Is it too early to hope for spring?

So I had to make sure the bathroom greenhouse was emptied so that the tender plants could get some sun. From the split-personality variegated Pesto Perpetuo basil…

2/2/2012 Winter Colors (1) 2/2/2012 Winter Colors (2)

…to the irrepressible Oriental Limelight artemisia and Easy Wave petunias bustin’ out of their pots…

2/2/2012 Winter Colors (3) 2/2/2012 Winter Colors (4) 2/2/2012 Winter Colors (5) 2/2/2012 Winter Colors (6)

…to the vibrant loropetalum burgeoning with blossoms…

2/2/2012 Winter Colors (7) 2/2/2012 Winter Colors (8) 2/2/2012 Winter Colors (9)

…from an unexpected previous-year volunteer (Sorbet Coconut Swirl Viola)…

2/2/2012 Winter Colors (10) 2/2/2012 Winter Colors (11)

…to the unpredictable buds on the Encore Azalea Autumn Monarch…

2/2/2012 Winter Colors (12) 2/2/2012 Winter Colors (13) 2/2/2012 Winter Colors (14)

…and the lovely winter foliage of the Lanai Purple Star verbena.

2/2/2012 Winter Colors (15)

The signs of spring are everywhere–you just have to look closely.

Coming up next: my 2012 seed orders!

Winter Yard Works

Larkspur, flax, and viola seeds have been planted. We had plenty of mulching,  raking and chainsawing to do this weekend. I also accomplished cleaning out the tree ring bed, scattering some marigold seeds in the process. Elsewhere, the mild weather is enticing bulbs and flowers to put out color and growth. Coral Nymph salvia managed to bloom in a protected spot, while the variegated lemon thyme shows off some pink color. The loropetalum in the purple bed is about to burst into fuschia flowers, while the dusty miller grows taller in the pansy bed. I hope to purchase more seeds soon!

1/30/2012 Winter Yard Works (1) 1/30/2012 Winter Yard Works (2) 1/30/2012 Winter Yard Works (3) 1/30/2012 Winter Yard Works (4) 1/30/2012 Winter Yard Works (5) 1/30/2012 Winter Yard Works (6) 1/30/2012 Winter Yard Works (7) 1/30/2012 Winter Yard Works (8) 1/30/2012 Winter Yard Works (9) 1/30/2012 Winter Yard Works (10) 1/30/2012 Winter Yard Works (11) 1/30/2012 Winter Yard Works (12) 1/30/2012 Winter Yard Works (13) 1/30/2012 Winter Yard Works (14) 1/30/2012 Winter Yard Works (15) 1/30/2012 Winter Yard Works (16)