Hostas, Anyone?

Boy, I didn't realize it had been this long since I posted, but I guess it has. I've been a busy gal now that the weather has started to get warmer. Since I just bought this place a month or so ago, I'm still finding new plants and things popping up all over that need dealt with.

I've got about 10 bunches of hosta that haven't been divided in probably several years, and they are as hard as a rock. There are probably 30 shoots coming up out of each bunch, with a lot more that aren't coming up because they're so crowded, but probably will after division, or at least next year. I've divided some and put them in various areas around my flower beds, and have donated quite a few to others via freecycle. They're worse than rabbits!



This is just one bunch. The large brown/gray mass in the middle is all hosta as well, that seem almost like they're petrified.

I had quite a few variegated hosta, but they weren't as bad off as the solid, and they've divided quite nicely and are doing well. The solids will come around too, just might take a little longer, I suppose.

Here's a couple of shots where I've poked them in various beds. I still need to decide if I'll put other flowers in these areas, and what sort of edging to use as that nasty black stuff that's hanging out has to go. I don't like working with mulch, so need to decide whether to go with a ground cover or something instead.



I've got so much to do to even get these areas presentable, but believe me when I say that they are still a lot better than what I walked into.

So here you have some 'during' shots. I sure hope I finally get to a point where I can post some 'after' photos.

Next post: My perennial garden oasis.

Ok, here's a sneak peek of Ms Molly standing guard, keeping the butterflies at bay.

Birth of an Egg Baby

I spent quite a bit of time in the yard today, trying to figure out what I'm going to do with what. I don't really have a lot to show for my efforts yet (except for a dirty, tired body) so no pictures of that today.

Of the three tomato seeds I planted last week, only the one has come up so far but it is going strong. It went from barely poking through the ground yesterday (see photo in yesterday's blog entry here) to about 1.5" today, so it was time to pot up from the eggshell 'bassinet' to a 'crib' to allow the roots to get longer and stronger.

I had saved an orange juice carton so cut it in half, washed it, and poked a few small holes in the bottom for the 'crib'.



After adding some dirt to about 3/4 of the way full and a thin layer of seed starter mix on top of that, I took the seedling and tapped the bottom of the eggshell to break it so the roots can finagle their way through easily. Since eggshells have calcium, you can leave the little bits of cracked shell right in the soil for an added bit of nourishment for your growing baby.

I set it down into the soil so that the eggshell is about half covered.

I then filled in with more seed starter mix until the eggshell and about half of the seedling was covered, leaving more room in the 'crib' to add more soil as it gets leggy.




I water my seeds and seedlings with a recycled contact lens solution bottle. It allows me to direct the water in a very small area without using much force that might dislodge a seed or damage a seedling.

I just started playing with gardening last year but I started all my tomato plants this way and had 100% germination and plants well over 6' tall with large, juicy red fruit. I'm no expert by any means, but it worked for me!

Springing Up All Over

I'm still curious about what surprises I have popping up at my new house. I noticed these little fingers trying to push through the soil and last night realized they were large enough to identify - I have a bunch of hosta coming up at the front of the house - hurray!


The daffodils that are scattered in a few spots are coming along nicely. I wish I had taken a shot yesterday when they were all standing so straight and pretty. Apparently they don't want to ruin their make-up as they're hunched over and hiding their faces from the rain this morning. (Much like Ms Molly who decided she doesn't like to go potty in the rain).



The buds on the rotund bush in the back yard have started to open, and I found (the hard way), that this particular specimen has thorns. It's not a rose, so I googled what else would have flowers and thorns and I believe it to be a Flowering Quince. They are known to flower in early spring and bear fruit in the fall (some varieties). Mine look very much like the photos I've found of Chaenomeles Japonica, or Japanese Quince.

Regardless of what it is, it's beautiful ...

I still haven't decided what I'm going to do about a vegetable garden this year since I have so much else going on. I planted two leftover bush cucumber seeds in a little pot on 3/31, so I probably won't see anything from them for another day or two, at the earliest.

I also planted tomato seed in three eggshells on 3/28 and noticed this morning that one has championed its way through the soil and is proudly poking its tiny head out. They're seeds I had left from last year and I haven't been too good about keeping them warm, so to see germination in less than 6 days tickles me.

I am amazed at how a seed less than 1/2" in size can be nurtured into a plant well over 6' tall that will bear plentiful fruit to feed us. Another of God's miracles that I am blessed to witness daily.