My 6 year old daughter was the inspiration for the PC grow box for her science fair project to figure out why strawberries don't grow during the wintertime. She started by picking a strawberry plant from our garden (snow still on the ground) and we potted it in a terra cotta pot which she carefully painted ahead of time. We put it in the grow box in our garage with the lights on for 14 hours a day. As she saw significant changes in her strawberry plant we took pictures. After about a month of growing we went through the pictures and she wrote her report explaining the changes. . ..
I arrive at work at six in the morning. All winter, this means I look at the night sky. This week, the sky has become a blue on blue tapestry, instead of all black. And the lone day when it was not desperately overcast (or raining), there were hints of purples and pinks in the distant sky. . . .
reBlogged
to spring
Posted by millionbells Reblogged by Old Roses to spring on 2008-03-05, 17:51:38
Hate is such a strong word. But too strong? Perhaps. Still, what I feel when I see the sort of “I’m hungry, so to hell with you” behavior that a couple of cutworms just visited upon my miniature iris is something that at the very least, lives in the same neighborhood as hate. Maybe just down the block, in the neighborhood of loathing. I get all tied in knots and want to squeeze them between my thumb and index finger until I take on a bit of their essence, which I affectionately refer to as ‘green thumb’ and force them to take on the essence of, wait for it . . . ‘squash’. . . .
reBlogged
to pests
on Mar 4, 2008, 2:22PM
Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to pests on 2008-03-05, 17:48:57
Today is a day to view the world through the windows, especially in my part of the world, where we are getting dumped on with a huge snow/ice storm once again. I have an unexpected day off as schools and some businesses in our area are closed due to the awful weather. . . .
Been kinda busy lately - no joke. I've even been in the garden instead of in front of a computer screen! Things happen, whether I have time to blog about them or not, so here is the briefest of summaries of things I've noticed or done recently. . . .
reBlogged
to spring
Posted by Entangled Reblogged by Old Roses to spring on 2008-03-05, 17:46:10
Oh boy, I’ve broken my own rules. By the time this posts, it will be well into Tuesday evening - definitely not Tuesday am! I’m sick as a dog (are dogs always sick?), so I’m taking it slow and easy, drinking tea as I traverse your great sites....
Report Your Zones! So first off, only about 1/3 of y’all have reported your zones. So if you haven’t done so, please visit last week’s Growing Challenge post and report your zone in the comments! (There are handy dandy links there so you can determine your zone very quickly. . .
reBlogged
to vegetables
on Mar 4, 2008, 1:23PM
Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to vegetables on 2008-03-05, 17:45:30
" Those of us who are gardeners do not need to train ourselves to be aware of the seasons, intuitively or any other way, for the seasons have us by the throat. "
~ Germaine Greer
~ A Winter Night's Dream
reBlogged
to roses recipes
Posted by joey Reblogged by Old Roses to recipes, roses on 2008-03-05, 17:43:52
Brrr, what a shock - a rare north wind has arrived, I can hear the bamboo wind chime clacking away outside and the temperature is very cool. Jasmine smell is being wafted elsewhere. Time to get the socks and thermals out again. We were tempted to remove the electric blanket over the weekend and decided against it, just in case. . . .
reBlogged
to weather
Posted by ladyluz Reblogged by Old Roses to weather on 2008-03-05, 17:43:33
If you do nothing else while building your pond, build it above grade. You can use my method or just pile up the soil you removed from the hole around the edges, but if you don't build it up, run off from your yard can kill your pond. . . .
reBlogged
to ponds
Posted by Jan Goldfield Reblogged by Old Roses to ponds on 2008-03-05, 17:43:18
Fountain and Palm House, Brooklyn Botanic Garden
On Saturday, March 8, from 10am to 4pm, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden hosts its annual Making Brooklyn Bloom, a FREE day-long series of speakers, workshops, films and resources. Presented by...
Brooklyn Category 1-4 Coastal Storm Impact Zones. Yellow areas are most at risk from this storm, especially during high tide tomorrow morning.
The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch which includes Brooklyn starting later tonight and...
This could be a way to post interesting plant news on a trip or even around the neighborhood. See the blooming lupine? and other flowers from Joshua Tree National Park which is a rare event according to the author.
And, stunning orchids by Finca Dracula. The interface is a little glitchy. I had to click many times on Next or the numbers under the photo to see another picture.
reBlogged
to plants
on Mar 4, 2008, 8:09AM
Posted by Ki Reblogged by Old Roses to plants on 2008-03-05, 05:43:05
This is a cross between Kalanchoe crenatum and Kalanchoe daigremontianum. It produces many plantlets on the edges of the leaves and can look absolutely fabulous when grow hard in the sun, when it takes on a beautiful reddish tinge.
I have mixed feelings about this plant, and it is evidenced by the fact that it gets terrible treatment, although it can be a very attractive specimen. It is not impossible to kill it, but there is no shortage of offsets and it can be found all around my garden now, growing in every possible location where the plantlets have fallen, even lookin glike "flowers" at the crown of cacti. I intend to cultivate a specimen potted up nicely in a container and see if I can have it ready for the JHS show for the end of April.
Kalanchoe 'crenatodaigremontianum'
(sunny spot)
(shady spot)
reBlogged
to kalanchoe
Posted by Jade Reblogged by Old Roses to kalanchoe on 2008-03-05, 05:42:13
I had spied many small trees in bloom as I travelled inland from Tiznit to Tafraoute. Some had pink blossoms, others white. I had wondered if either of them were almond blossoms and it turned out that they both were. . . .
The Fritz Haeg Edible Estates Demonstration Garden and lilacs, camellias, roses and more at Descanso Gardens in southern Calfornia. What's your favorite display garden?
reBlogged
to botanical_garden
on Mar 4, 2008, 3:00AM
Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to botanical_garden on 2008-03-05, 05:41:37
Everyone learns daily. Little things. Big things. Silly things. Smart things. Apparent things.
Only grow as many tomatoes as you can eat or give away. Don't grow so many that they rot on the vine or make you go insane. The Little Tomato Farm is slowly withering
and I am trying to breathe some life back into it. We've lost too many to fruit flies and other bugs. But I'm going to spend more time outside soon. . . .
reBlogged
to gardening
on Mar 4, 2008, 10:25PM
Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to Gardening on 2008-03-05, 05:40:40
Thought I'd take a few minutes and share a couple pics. The first one is of a few GWA elected leaders telling us how they are going to pimp us garden writers out for quick cash to pay for the organization's overdue web site overhaul. Actually, this crew just got a little too "in character" being fresh back from their recent GWA Board meeting in New Orleans. In this case, what happens on Bourbon Street, did not stay there :-). . . .
In 1878, Sherman Stowell sold to Elizabeth Brockett 30 acres of land which he had earlier purchased from George Jennings. I now live and garden with my family on some of that land, which Jennings or...
reBlogged
to natives
on Mar 4, 2008, 2:51PM
Posted by Kathy Purdy Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2008-03-05, 05:38:55
I was exchanging e-mail with a friend this morning and we were talking about winter and how it seems to be lasting a long time this year. I was reminded of a few minutes a few days ago…the weather was mild, the sun was shining and I actually heard a few little birds chirping. I said to my friend,
The other day as I was walking from the car into work, the sun was shining, and it was about 6 degrees out, and I could actually FEEL the sun, and in those three minutes I caught a brief glimpse of spring. It kept me going for the next day or so.
Daylight savings time is coming up, early this year, and I really think it will have a positive influence on my mood. It’s not that I’m miserable or anything. In fact, I’m too busy these days with two jobs and my writing to have time for misery. A bit of warm sunshine and the smell of something green can lift my spirits instantly. I continue to go to sleep with thoughts of the garden drifting through my mind.
reBlogged
to spring
on Mar 4, 2008, 9:49AM
Posted by Amy Reblogged by Old Roses to spring on 2008-03-05, 05:38:36
The strawberry plant is doing better than I ever expected, should have some fresh strawberries in a week or two. Hopefully no one tells them it is not June...
via ROBIN'S NESTING PLACE on 1969-12-31, 19:00:00
