Plants Plants Plants

My dues to the Master Gardener are overdue and I'm going to be kicked out come March 1. Marty says pay them--it's only $25. It isn't exactly about the money. I hate paying them and then Marty takes a job three days later in Lincoln Nebraska*. So, it's about the unknown. I hate being in flux. We all do. But I love the Master Gardener group. The people! The knowledge! Serving my community! 

Anyway all that is to say, I'm on the fence about the Master Gardener program. 

What the alyssums should
look like when they sprout.  

Yesterday, I spent the morning playing with plants. I have a garden around the outside of my greenhouse. Last year it was full of veggies. This year, I haven't mapped out what I want to plant. Honestly, if we are moving, I'd rather the greenhouse garden look attractive and inviting, so I'm thinking that garden will focus more on flowers. I did throw out a few seeds: daisies and alyssums. 

I also planted carrots and cut back the oregano and lemon balm that survived the freeze. I'm hesitant to plant lettuce because we can never eat it as quickly as it grows. There's a shade garden at one end of my yard which I'll get to later this week. I want flowers there too. Let me reprhase that. I want flowers to FINALLY grow there this year. 

Inside the greenhouse, I tended to my sprouts. So far I have one yellow squash plant sprouting. This is disturbing because I planted 8 of them. I also planted 8 zucchini plants. None of them are coming up. These seedlings aren't for me. They are for the Master Gardener sale next month. I know enough to know I cannot keep squash and zucchini alive. The bugs get my plants every year. 

I also replanted new tomato seeds. I have a few coming up, but the ones sprouting aren't the variety I wanted to eat. So, those will go to the plant sale and I have a few new ones for me. By the way, these will be in planters because if we move, I'm giving them to someone else. All my herbs are coming up. As are my cucumbers. I'll keep a plant or two and give the rest to the plant sale. 

Some of my seedlings. 

What I hope my hosta
will look like. 

I'm also experimenting with a few different plants. I want to try my hand at grafting, That's another reason why I have so many seedlings starting. And, I found some seeds I'd saved last year in a paper towel (I store these kinds of seeds in a baggie in the freezer). The paper towel got moldy so I planted the whole thing anyway. The mold won't hurt the soil (microbes!). I'm curious if the seeds are viable though.

Speaking of experiments. I planted a blue hosta. That one is in a pot because if I move, I'm taking it with me. Right now I'm on the lookout for a purple one as well. 

Most of my plants are outside right now. I moved them when we stopped getting under 40 degrees at night. However, I still have a couple that are inside. 

A repotted purslane or portulaca. The other one (I transplanted half of it) is outside, enjoying the weather. A pretty flowering plant that tastes great in salads. 

Corona Krissy gave me this. It is a purple heart plant (also called a wandering jew). Too heavy to move and because it's inside in the heat, it's blooming. I love this plant. 

And when I was finished yesterday, I generously sprinkled sulfur all over the greenhouse floor. Last year I found a snake in the greenhouse (you heard the shrieking, I'm sure). It was a garden snake and it slithered out a crack. Sulfur is supposed to deter snakes. It's warm enough now that they aren't hibernating. Hopefully I spread enough so any critters thinking of coming near the greenhouse will change their minds.  

*At this time Marty does not have any prospects in Lincoln Nebraska, nor do I think he's applied for a job in Lincoln.