bsmitch's Blog

Sandy and I went down the road about a quarter of a mile and there are thousands of daffodils starting to bloom. We picked a bouquet for our son and his wife who are arriving here tomorrow from Washington State. Beautiful aren't they.

I always keep my eye on the sales at Lowes, especially during the winter months. I got this plant for $6, half off the original price. It was among some sorrier looking ones. It takes a keen eye, and I love orchids.

I started doing this several years ago and it is always successful and easy. In the first part of November, when I am planting tulips, I put five or six bulbs in plastic pots and bury them in the mature compost pile. In the middle of February, I start digging them up. Usually one a week and bring them into the house where the warm temperature jump starts them. It's a bonus to see them bloom while waiting for spring.  This pot is on it's way and will probably have blooms in ten days or so.

Last year my neighbor had these awesome looking decorative pepper plants. The leaves are blackish green and they produce little black peppers about the size of marbles, green at first, then black, then red. They are edible, but very hot. I  gathered a few and dried them out during the winter, separated the seeds from the pods and soaked them for twenty four hours and planted them in moist potting soil. I placed the plastic container on top of my computer for the warmth and they started germinating in about a week. I open the container during the day and put it under a light. Here is a picture of my babies with an insert of the mature plant.

Hope you all have fun starting your new spring gardens...

Monday is Valentine's Day. There is still snow on the ground, but it is melting and will be gone then. I love the Lenten Rose with it's fierce determination to bloom in the harshest of winter weather. The first batch of tulips I planted in early November are poking through the straw and snow. These are all definite signs of the coming of spring.

Have a great day everyone and Happy Valentine on Monday