Outgrown…

Posted on by

Today after work, I stopped by Home Depot and bought myself a two bulb fluorescent shop light to use as grow lights, since I’ve out grown my aquarium. I got a warm bulb and used one of the cool white we had in storage; I hope this is the right combination. I just bought a 2 footer, because I have no room in my room for the 4 foot one.

I also got a bigger Jiffy Greenhouse (72 Pellets), so I can really start sowing seeds.

…And to top it off, I found a 3 pack of Dahlia ‘Peaches N Cream’. Imma grow one or two for our house and give one to my Aunt who has a collection of Dahlias.

Earlier This Week…

Posted on by

Sunday Jan. 29, 2006

I was able to take some photos of the garden. I just haven’t downloaded them to my computer.

I potted the Yellow Crocus that my brother didn’t plant into two small rectangle pots that I found laying in the corner of the garden. I also potted the Giraffe Dahlia and the Yellow Peruvian Daffodils that I purchased the previous weekend into one gallon pots.

Tuesday Jan. 31, 2006

Five potted Coleus cutting (3 Kong Scarlet, 1 Pat Martin and 1 Velvet Lime) graduated from the Coleus Aquarium and are now in their new home at work to over-winter.

I purchased a Jiffy-7 Mini-Greenhouse with 12 Jiffy-7 Pellets, for $1.88 just to try it out since I never used it. I planted 2 pellets each of these seeds:

– Tomato ‘Brandywine OTV’
– Tomato ‘Great White’
– Eggplant ‘Scarlet Chinese’
– Coleus ‘Dappled Apple?’ (Collected from last year)
– Columbine ‘William Guinness’
– Carex sp.? (An ornamental grass that I collected)

I also bought a pack of small ZipLock-type bags to organize all the seeds I’ve collected, especially the Coleus seeds and Ornamental Grasses that where here and there.

The Jiffy pellet were convenient, but seemed small, but I may move the seedlings to bigger pots if they grow too big and not ready to go outside.

Wednesday Feb. 1, 2006

I bought three more Mini-Greenhouse as gifts; one for my coworker Purr and two for Michael’s birthday.

I also bought a few seeds packets:

– Columbine ‘Barlow Mix’ (Aquilegia vulgaris)
– Zinnia ‘Candy Cane Mix’ (Zinnia elegans)
– Zinnia ‘Envy’ (Zinnia elegans)
– Nicotiana ‘Peace Pipe’ (Nicotiana sylvestris)
– Blue Fescue (Festuca ovina glauca)

Books

Posted on by

I almost forgot to return some of the books and video that I had borrowed. Luckily, the library doesn’t close until 9pm. So I quickly drove over, return the books and video and got a few more:

– 100 Heirloom Tomatoes for the American Garden by Carolyn J. Miles
– Northern California Gardening – A Month by Month Guide by Katherine Grace Endicott
– Golden Gate Gardening by Pam Peirce

I haven’t had a chance to read and reply to my LiveJournal and Flickr accounts, so I’m behind on that. So if you commented or asked me a question… I’ll get back to you soon.

Happy Anniversary

Posted on by

Today is my parents’ anniversary. If my Dad was still alive, they would have been married for 51 years.

To honor their special day, I took the day off so I can spend the day with my Mom.

Although it is raining outside, she is already in the (covered) patio in the back repotting some succulents. Which reminds me, I have to make more cacti mix for me (peat moss + perlite + sand).

Coleus – A Guide to Cultivation and Identification (1974)

Posted on by

I just won this on eBay. On Amazon, it cost $77.53 used. I got it for GBP 4.20 (or $7.43) plus shipping.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joeysplanting/92714506/

The description reads:

Coleus – A Guide to Cultivation and Identification

– Published Edinburgh, John Bartholomew 1974
– 8vo with 116 pages, colour plates/illustrations.
– Book in very good condition, with slighly faded dust jacket .
– First edition signed by both Pedley brothers who were Lancashire nurserymen.
– A delightful little book covering every aspect of cultivation of this versatile plant.

Hmmm… Can I Make Money Growing Plants?

Posted on by

I fell asleep right after dinner while watching TV and woke up so early (4:30am), so I’m doing some computer work, until I can get back to sleep and wake up (6:30am) for work.

Yesterday, one of my best friend (who is just started his garden design business in Reno last year) left me a message on my mobile phone and had a thought. He said that if and when I got my new house, maybe I can grow some plants for him, and he can use these in his garden design business or sell it at the farmers market. I thought this was a great idea, but I have no clue when it comes to business, so some questions came to mind:

1. Do I need to get a business license, or can I do this just as a side business and make extra money?
2. Can I grow plants and sell them myself at a local farmers market or online, like on Craig’s List?
3. Is there a demand for plants grown by just regular gardeners?
4. What plants are sought after in Reno? One that comes to mind are Ornamental Grasses.
5. What Ornamental Grasses are popular?
6. Where should I get seeds or young plants for cheap?

See how my mind works?

( Also posted in Gardening )

Wish List: Heucheras + Heucherellas

Posted on by

I just saw some on the TV show “Ask DIY Gardening”

– Heuchera ‘Peach Flambe’ ( photo )
– Heuchera ‘Amber Waves’ ( photo )
– Heuchera ‘Lime Ricky’ ( photo )
– Heuchera villosa ‘Caramel’ ( photo ) ( photo )
– Heuchera ‘Venus’ ( photo )
– Heucherella ‘Stoplight’ ( photo ) ( photo )

Wish List: Ladybird Poppy (Papaver commutatum)

Posted on by

I just saw Ladybird Poppy (Papaver commutatum) growing in Willow, Alaska on the show Smart Gardening.

Here’s a photo I found online: ( link )