Kaos's Iris is Blooming

A great day in Kaos's Garden.  The Iris Planted in Kaos honor bloomed for the first time and is stunning.  There are several buds coming but the first bloom took my breath away.  I am sure it means more to me than it ever would to her.  I am not sure how interested dogs are in flowers.  I know some they like to eat and some they smell, but mostly they like to pee on them.  This one is off limits for the boys.  Surprisingly they haven't run over it, sat on it or in any other way tried to damage it.  As faith will have it the first blossom opened on a special day.  Febuary 29th. 

Bulbs...

I couldn't resist anymore so I ended up ordering a few things.  I ordered from K.Van Bourgondien& Sons wholesale site.  I have figured out that ordering wholesale is usually much better when there's a big yard involved.
I ordered:

Peruvian Daffodil, KG 2009

 

10 GIANT CANNA AMBASSADOR-BLACK NIGHT

10 GIANT CANNA STADT FELLBACH

5 DWARF CANNA CRIMSON BEAUTY 1 5

25 ISMENE FESTALIS (PERUVIAN DAFFODIL)

5 HEDYCHIUM (YELLOW GINGER LILY)

Cannas are always great.  Practically indistructable, even though a little Colt wold like to try.  The spread and fill areas quickly.  I am in the process of making "tunnels" for the dog, and they will be great in front.  There is no use fighting with the dog about the yard.  I am trying to make it a fun place for him as well as a beautiful space for me.  With  some creativiy I think we can  make it work.  T

The peruvian daffodils I absolutely love.  I already have a few in the garden, but I don't think I could ever get enough of them.

Grapes are easy to propegate.

I just cut some pieces off the vine, and stuck them in a pot.  Now I have 3 more plants, now I just have to find a place to plant them.  Ideally a place where the squirrels can't get to them since they seem to like to eat them when they are ALMOST done. 

 

Actually most/a lot of plants are very easy to propagate.  Try it yourself, cut of a branch and stick it in the ground, you would be surprised how easy it it.  This also works well with sweet potato vine, tomato plants, some salvias.  Others are more foolproof if you layer them. 

Layering seems difficult but its easy.  Fill a put with potting soil, place it next to the plant you want to propagate, and bend a branch under the soil.  To keep it in place I usually just hold it down with a small rock.  This is a very easy way to make multiple Salvia Greggii's

QVC TSV from Robertas Garden

It was not planned, I just like to check QVC right after midnight to see what the TSV (Today's Special Value) will be.  On this faithful night it was Calla lilies.  15 giant calla bulbs to be exact.
As the presentation wore on I scuffed at the remarks from the Roberta's garden rep about how special the "big" ones were and how they were the only ones who had them.  Yeah right.  I bought some years ago from both HD and WM.  As I was about to change the channel the gentleman held up what he claimed to be an example of the bulb they shipped out.  It was big, it was huge...  He showed more and my interest level started to peak.  Most of his claims I took with a grain of salt, but the bulb size was impressive.  The size and quality he claimed would be shipped out was astounding.  Each bulb was the size of 3-5 big box bulbs.
I caved, and ordered two sets.  I have shopped with QVC for a few years and trust that what I saw is  what I will get.
Well that was last night, and today I am struggling with buyers remorse.  I can still cancel...but can't make up my mind. 
A quick search on garden watchdog showed very disappointing reviews.  As were the reviews on QVC.  Still I couldn't get over the size of bulbs shown and my trust in QVC.  Even my garden friends told me they had ordered from RG/QVC and been disappointed.  Told me don't do it, they would never do it again.  The lure of the bulbs had taken a hold.  These were Calla bulbs, and I already have and grow Callas.  So I know they will grow here.  They are perennial for me, no lifting needed.  Digging up bulbs to store/overwinter is something I just won't do.  I am sure that QVC quality control make sure that what you see is what you get.  So when they eventually ship out, I'll see what they are and how they do.  I still don't know why they make us wait so long for the bulbs.  The big box stores have had theirs out since new year, and by late March it's already borderline warm here.  To some probably HOT, anyway by mid March we usually hover around the mid 80's, decide yourself if that is hot or warm.

February is here

as is the itch for bulbs.  Dahlias, freesias, Glads, Peruvian Daffs, lilies.... the list is never ending, and temptation is only a click away. 
On a separate disappointing note, it seems like Connell's Dahlias are out of business.  That's to bad since I wanted to place an order.  I have found some retailers online and I am debating on placing an order or two.
A coldfront swept in and highs has only been in the 50's today.  Another 1+inches of rain last night.  Seems like the weeds are growing with super speeds. Been pulling them for days, seems like it's a never ending cycle.  Lemon trees are starting to bloom, other citrus are budding up, and first blooms appeared on the back Plum tree. 

Late January Bloomers

More Seeds

3L bottles

#1 - Delphinium, Blue Duet Mix (21-28 days)
#2 - Delphinium Pacific Giant (21-28 days)

24 pack Marked Nasties
12 Fordhook Fave Nastrium, 6 Balsam Kaos Mix, 6 Lipstick Pink Nastrium


72 Cell Flats

Yellow Starburst all   White Alyssum

In Dahlia Flat First 7 rows planted with Unwin's Dwarf.


Update:
Seedlings Direct Sown Poppies, Shirley, Double Flowered Mixed Colors
Flat Orange Marker containing Hot Pink Petunia and Moss Rose.

Saturday Spray schedule

Nice Sunny Day.  Sprayed Round-up on weeds, Dormant Oil on fruit trees and final dose of Nematodes.

Crape Murder...

Crape Murder is a saying here in the south referring to the butcher like pruning of Crape Myrtles.  It is very common, and occurs in all states, towns and neighborhoods.  Take a look around and you will probably a neighbor, a commercial property or even yourself have committed this offense.  First of all I don't have a problem with pruning ornamental including Crape Myrtles, I selectively prune my own.  I have two Red Dynamite, and an unknown lavender variety that was labeled Naztech White when I bought it.  I prune all three, but very differently.  The Unknown Lavender one Has an amazing natural shape, so I only prune "stray hairs", or odd branches that grow the wrong way.  I also cut off small branches that are growing into the tree. 


Crape Massacre



The Dynamites have a very irregular growth pattern.  Seems like half the tree (and it is the same on both) grows tall and straight up, with no shape what so ever, and the other half grows broader, and shorter.  In order to even it out and hopefully one day have two beautifully shaped trees I prune them a lot more severe than I would want.  Every year I feel like I have butchered the trees, and I guess in a way I have.  They are now 5 years old and FINALLY the short stocky side has gotten about 6ft tall. 

The problem is that last summer the "tall" side shot up over 15 ft.  As you can imagine those were some very funny looking trees.  Both of the Dynamites have been pruned back to an "even" shape. 

Crape murder however was taken to a whole new level by a neighbor down the street.

Last year I noticed there was two stick in their yard, bluntly cut.  I didn't think much off it at first, assuming they were getting rid of it.  In summer however the stick turned into a Crape Myrtle.  Hanging on for dear life.  Again, I thought, maybe they hadn't realized the CM was alive when they had chopped it, or they had thought it was a weed....

Then this fall, I walked past the house and to my horror saw they had chopped it again.  I don't think Crape Murder is a strong enough phrase for this.  It's More like a Crape Massacre...

Seed Starting.

Started seeds for spring 2012.  Somehow the pelleted seeds were damaged, and my totals of pelleted wave petunia seeds comes in at a total of 36, and not the 75 I had planned. 
Next time I purchase pelleted seeds I will try to check if they have been crushed.
The White Shock Wave Petunia seeds came from Park Seed, the Purple and Silver Tidal Wave from Ferry Morse.

The regular Hot Pink Petunias are from seeds collected from the garden. A total of 18 planted. Moss Rose was planted on the rest of the flat.  Mix in color as well as both single and double flowers.

Alyssum, Snaps (First Ladies) and Stock (seeds from Kaos'sGarden.










In addition a full flat was planted of dark red snapdragons, seeds collected from Kaos'sGarden.  Also sprinkled some around the potted pots by the patio, as well as some Alyssum seeds.  Also at that corner two Pink Amaryllis bulbs were planted.  Everything was watered, the clear plastic dome lids were placed on top of the seed starting flats, and secured with bungee cords.

Potted up some Seedlings

Potted up 12 2in pots and 1 quart container of Rock Rose Pavonia lasiopetala.  It's a great shrubby perennial for central TX.  Very drought tolerant and blooms most of the year.  It looks stunning in the morning sun.

Also potted up 7 2in pots of  Blue Plumbago seedlings. Just about a perfect plant.

6 2in pots and 5 quarts with Datura wrightii  One of my all time favorites. 

Onions Part Two

Planted yet another bunch of about 80.  This time it was the 1015Y Texas Supersweet.  They were planted around an apple tree and in the raised bed containing one Iceberg rose.
In the spot between the raised bed and the gate, I also planted one bulb of Red Amaryllis, two  Ruellia brittoniana 'Purple Showers' and one Dahlia _________
All were watered in with a seaweed solution.