Betts's Blog

Hi all, boy was it nice getting some real showers.  We transplanted our butterfly bush and new crape myrtle just before the rain.  They are both doing great.  Now Rick will be moving some plant shelves back under our patio, where some of our cactus and succulents will winter.  I'm hoping to plant my amaryllis bulbs this week too, we're suppose to get a little more rain at the end of the week...but should be nice weather for tricks or treats. 

 These are some of the shelves Rick put together for me...I have them in two other areas..but I keep accumulating more plants...mostly pups and extras from divisions.  Luckily I have a couple of gardeners I share with, plus my sister in law takes a few every time she visits.  After Halloween we'll be rearranging all my potted plants that are frost sensitive...but as I mentioned before, I may run out of areas for some of them.  Wish me luck (-_^)

 Here's the touchiest cactus I have...the parent plant was old enough to bloom about 3 years ago...but a frost nearly killed it and I thought it was protected!  Luckily the leaves protected the stems and I was able to keep it going.  It's larger now, but like the Green Hoya, I'm waiting for it's first flowers. This is a Pereskia aculeata

 I've since realized...it's more of a bush than a vine...I hope to get a trellis and repot it next spring.  Wish me luck..again, lol (-_^) Hope you're all doing well

Finally we get some rain....but didn't get a chance to move our cactus and succulents onto our patio...most will be okay, but the ones with permanent saucers will have to be drained and be moved sometime today....I also have some amaryllis bulbs that  have not been looking to good...hopefully I can get them out of the way too.  I fret because they are in planters, but if any make it to spring...I will find a good spot in ground for them. 

Other than that...we are enjoying our first fall rain...hope all is well with everyone else...Hugs, (-_^) Betts

Greetings, Hope your weekend was as lovely as ours.  After two weeks of summer heat refusing to leave...we got a real autumn shower....hopefully the cool autumn weather will stay.  And, my new garden tile was lovely after this shower (-_^)

 And.... here's a sweet 'n lovin' gift Aurora got for her birthday....look familiar??

It's been unseasonably warm here.  A wee bit more humidity than we're use too.  But did find a lovely Ivy Geranium last weekened...caught my attention, the buds reminded me of rose buds...I'm not fond of roses (Sorry), but love pelargoniums  and are easier to grow for me (-_^)

I'm a bit behind on my posting...but these Arums sprang out  with my Brugmansia sanguinea seedling...luckily I have three nice Brugmansias growing in a larger pot (-_^)

Does anyone know if these are Crocosmia seeds or what?

  Thanks in advance (-_^)

Whee! After about 7 yrs my green Hoya put out a flower cluster...only one, but I'll take it!

 Update;  Worked the soil and put some of the hollyhock seeds on either side of our gray trellis...they'll get plenty of sun..there is still one more area to do...but we have to  move a butterfly bush first...then after we put in the Zuni Crape Myrtle...I'll be able to plant more seeds.

 The weather is going to be awesome this weekend ...so I will be getting the soil ready to plant the hollyhock seeds from sweet 'bugieluv"...I'm so excited, there are three areas they should do well in!!!  It's going to be a kick seeing them grow and then blossom...I know it can take a couple of summers but it will be well worth the wait.. thanks again buglieluv!!

Hello....I know there a lot of herb lovers out there...I have my favorites and even grown some I'll never be able to really use...I'm not knowledgeable enough to use them safely...but this book is a must for anyone who grows herbs and may want to use them.   Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs  There are recipes...history...companion and toxicity.  Add this to your library and refer to it, then to be sure ask a qualified herbalist.  

Calendula...