Our Gerbera Daisies are not doing well and need new soil
So I wanted to refresh these pots before they start blooming. I removed the weeds and relocated the volunteer Columbines and Violas I found. I hope these rebound and start to flower more.
Tag Archives: columbine
Aquilegia flabellata ‘Nana Alba’?
I am so excited to see that one of my four surviving Columbines planted from seeds is just beginning to bloom… I’m doubly excite to see that it may be Aquilegia flabellata ‘Nana Alba’ which I have wanted for some time now.
The seeds were sent to me by fellow LiveJournal/Flickr user, lblanchard/lb_philly… Thank you so much Laura… They were difficult to germinate, but a few did. When they were big enough to transplant, all the ink on the tags faded and I couldn’t read them, so I didn’t know what varieties I had. I basically have to wait until they flowered.
I’ll keep checking this plant until the flower open, so I can snap a photo of it :)
Massive Seed Sowing Sunday…
This weekend, we had beautiful summer-like weather with highs reaching 78°F (normal average is 63°F). Looks like we are going to have an early spring (which is what I think Mr. Groundhog told us). I remember last year, I couldn’t plant outside until May because he had rain everyday in April.
It’s funny seeing myself plant seeds… Does anyone else sit down cross-legged with slippers and short on and work on the ground like that? I think I need a potting table…
I decided to take advantage of the nice weather and start planting seeds… and I did some massive seed sowing:
– Lemon Cucumber
– Cosmos ‘Picotee’
– Cosmos ‘Sensation Mixed Colors’
– Orange Cosmos from treebreeze (Thank you for these! :)
– Sunflower ‘Summer Sun’ (Ox-Eye) (Heliopsis Scabra)
– Agrostemma ‘Ocean Pearl’
– Strawflower (Helichrysum) Tall Double Mixed Colors
– Nasturtium ‘Jewel Mixed Colors’
– Zinnia ‘Envy’
– Zinnia ‘Candy Cane Mix’
– Zinnia ‘Dahlia Flowered Mixed Colors’
– Zinnia ‘Giant Cactus Mixed Colors’
– Zinnia ‘Thumbelina’
– Lamb’s Ears (I think they are Lamb’s Ears) seeds that I collect from San Anselmo
Spiders, Spiders, Spiders: As I was filling the 6-pack cell pots with soil, I found a Spider living in between them. I released it so it can find a new home. My Mom then noticed a Spider that had made a home in our of our decorative bird house. Then when I was sowing the seeds, I notice hundreds of tiny baby spiders around the 6-packs, so I tried to disperse them around the garden to make new homes.
Peanuts: I also took the Peanut outdoors and repotted it (again) into a larger container (its permanent home) filled with potting soil and a lot of perlite to make the soil really loose.
Garden progress:
Recent blooms: Spring Starflower, Rananculus
About to bloom: the very first Columbine, Pears, Apples, Clematis, Wisteria
Emerging growth: Forsythia leaves, Taro
Sunday Gardening…
I took more Coleus (and Plectranthus) cuttings today… As I was tagging the photos on Flickr, I noticed that I missed some plants, so I probably will have to have a Part 3.
I actually didn’t do much… because I napped a lot today…
I happened to check the Columbine seedlings ( sown seeds photo ) which I thought were either dead or would never grow, but surprisingly, there where a couple that sprouted and grew… though small and thin. I took them out of the vermiculite and planted each one in a pot. I hope they will continue to grow.
Peppers + Succulents
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Before I left for work, I did something really stupid… I picked up the mini-greenhouse with the Columbine seeds by the plastic cover… and the bottom part fell off. Vermiculite and Columbine seeds was scattered all over. I tried to scoop all that I can, but they are now all mixed up. Luckily, this wasn’t the mini-greenhouse with the seeds that lblanchard gave me. Those are all fine.
After work, I gave the Tri-Color Variegata Pepper that I dug up last year and overwintered some TLC. It has started to grow more leaves and a few flowers. I left all the peppers on the plant when I dug it up and they dried up. Some apparently dispersed some seeds, because there was baby Pepper plants at the Mom’s base. I dug these up and potted them up.
I also trimmed the dead branches and collected the dried peppers. If any of you want some, drop me a line and I can send you some.
I repotted two of the ornamental grasses (Carex sp. + Blue Fescue ) ( photo ) that I grew from seeds into one-gallon containers.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
My Mom has been telling me that the 99¢ grafted Cactus that I bought on Saturday has, been in full bloom. Whenever I take a look all the flowers are closed. Today, I woke up late and I finally got to see the open flowers during daylight.
My Euphorbia obesa ( photo ) and Pink Echevaria ( photo ) now have flower buds and should be flowering soon.
After work, I passed by Home Depot and found two succulent leaves ( photo ) on the floor, so I had to save them. I’m not quite sure want plants they are, but I’m going to see if they will grow.
It was a Busy Gardening Day…
I took a half day off and left work a bit early. I just needed to take care of a lot of things, because I know I won’t have much time this weekend because of another Filipino Fiesta in San Francisco.
Before going home I stopped by Mid-City Nursery and got three plants.
– Coleus ‘Show & Tell?’ (I don’t think the sticker on the container was correct)
– Coleus ‘Burnt Sienna?’ (I’m not sure if the tag on this plant was correct)
– Heuchera ‘Amber Waves’
First Poppy Blooms + Bigger Columbines
Our first Poppy blooms of the year!!! These measure about 5 inches across.
The Columbines next to the Poppies has gotten a lot bigger this year. This flower is also about 5 inches across.
A view from below
Columbine Update…
I read in a few sites that Columbine seeds need to be pre-chilled for a period of time, so I placed the ones I have, plus the ones from lblanchard in the refrigerator. I’m not sure how long I should chill them, so I have some more research to do.
I also read in a few sites and from some people that Columbines are difficult to sow from seeds. My mom agrees, and says the only way she’s been able to grow them, is by taking the volunteers from the garden and replanting them. I think I have a challenge…