It's Seed Time!

Seeds sown 1-23-09

Finally I sowed some of my seeds. There are tons of seeds I bought for this year. What I planted is such a small portion of what I have. I'm regretting planting the different types that I did because I don't have the space to grow substantial amounts of all of them. Each type has 3 pots or less. Some pots will probably be too small in a short time. I'll see how it goes but it's fun to plant seeds anyways and I'll be happy if I get some nice basic plants to plant for my home when we start moving in April.




Really I have no idea if most of these seeds will do well here. I'm so used to container gardening and being able to manipulate the soil and light to my liking. The balcony provides some shade so none of my plants get the full blazing hot killing sun that SA offers. Live and learn, I just can't resist buying seeds that might make it.

There are 63 pots and 23 different plants:
Castor Oil Bean Zanzibarrensis Mix
Black-eyed Susan Vine 'Spanish Eyes'
Verbena Adonis Mango
Cosmos Daydream
Zinnia Red Spider
Profusion Apricot Zinnia
Nicotiana Domino Salmon Pink
Nicotiana Tinkerbell
Wizard Velvet Red Coleus
Palisandra Coleus
Bronze Fennel Smokey
Salvia viridis Blue Denim
Love Lies Bleeding
Cigar Plant Matchless
Osteospermum African Moon
Hyssop
Lavender English Dwarf Hidcote
Petunia Easy Wave Beachcombers Mix
Achillea Summer Pastels
Basil Dark Opal Purple
Coreopsis Sunray
Alternanthera Purple Knight
Nasturtium Scarlet Gleam

More seeds!!!

Vinca Seeds

Well today went very well, until I cut my finger. Sorry no picture on that I don't think anyone wants to see my finger with a bandaid over it. It was a pretty bad cut that make me cry for a minute and call my husband to ask if I need stitches. I was trimming back the evil Torenia and rushing before my friend came over. As you can probably guess I wasn't being careful and snipped my finger. I could have really snipped off the tip, and it was pretty close to doing that. It stopped bleeding after a few minutes but it's the worst cut I have had. Lets say from now on I will always be careful no matter what.

On to the seeds now. I haven't been paying attention to the Vinca I have and when I looked at it for disease discovered I had a few seed pods.Now I have some seeds, joys.

I purchased some seeds online from Home Harvest Garden Supply. They were having a sale on seeds and I just couldn't resist seed packets that were .72 cents each. I saved 5 dollars buying it online then going to the garden center. It would have been more of a savings if the cheapest shipping wasn't priority (about $7). I have no idea if most of these will grow well here but I will try. Do tell me if any one of you wants some of these seeds. I only use a few seeds, I have rarely used a full packet unless I have problems.


Iceland Poppy (mixed), Nasturtium 'Dwarf Cherry Rose' 'Scarlet Gleem', Coreopsis 'Sunray'


Dill Bouquet, German Chamomile, Alternanthera 'Purple Knight', Bail 'Dark Opal Purple'


Marigold 'Queen Sophia', Petunia Easy Wave Beachcomber Hybrid (Mixed), Achillea Summer Pastels

I know I said I wouldn't get Petunia seeds but I love this color combination. Tomorrow or next weekend I need to get supplies to make a seed propagation table at home. Last year my seeds got leggy from not enough light. So I need some wood, nails, and lights, maybe even a timer.

Gathering Seeds and Having Transplants

Candytuft going to seed

The giant Candytufts are going to seed and slowly ending their life. I like to gather seeds from my plants. I'm curious to see if the seeds from these will make giants like the parents or if they will be the size of the other Candytufts I have.


Armeria formosa seeds

My armeria has gone to seed. There are other blooms but they are so tiny compared the ones before. I'm going to try my luck on sowing some and seeing if they sprout. If so I want to try Armeria again since I did something wrong with my other one. I think I watered it too much or I waited to long to water and it was severely damaged. I did sow some seeds I think last week but nothing has germinated. It's been hard finding information on germinating the seeds. I keep reading that you should soak them...but look what they are. I'm really confused. If anyone out there knows about germinating Armeria formosa seeds do inform me.

Now it's transplant time:

The major transplant

In this container is the Hare'sTail Grass (the 2 in the middle), the nemesia mello red and white (the two in the back corners, and laurentia axillaris (the two in the front corners). This is right after I did the transplanting. I was scared that the Hare's Tails Grass would not make it since it has seriously what looked like no roots at all. Today just about a week after transplanting everything is doing great. I am super surprised. Everything is really starting to take off. The Hare's Tail has grown a bit and straightened it's self. The Nemesia has grown. Now I am really surprised about the Nemesia because in the cells it had what looked like some leaf burn. It's been in more sun then it was in the cells and there is no leaf burn. It actually looks way happier. The Laurentia is growing fast now and I'm happy it looks so cute.


Statice in it's new home for now

The statice seedling are in their new home. I made a mistake and did not put them in the larger pot I had bought for them in the first place. That is okay though for when they grow bigger they will go in there. Unless I use the pot for something else in the mean time. There hasn't really been any signs of grown from them in the week following the tranplant. I'm sure they are just taking a break. There are still 2 seedlings in the cell. One of them I don't think will make it because it's just so puney looking. I won't give up hopes on it.


Parsley in it's new home

These were the last 2 parsley in the cells. They have this little home. The don't seem to be showing they like it. I'm sure they will eventually like it there.


The ivy in it's new home

Finally the ivy has a new home. I got this little piece of ivy from when I volunteered at the Botanical Gardens last year around November. Since then it's been in a 4" peat pot. I just keep on not having pots to transplant it in. Other things were always more important then it. i just didn't want ivy on it's own. I thought, well the weeping dwarf wannabe bonsai crape myrtle could use some nice trailing accent to it. So plop in the corner you go. I have thought about adding the sedum in there too..which is why i bought the sedum to begin with. But I don't want to crowd the roots of the tree to much. I think the sedum won't choke it out right. I mean if must have shallow roots being a succulent or am I wrong. I'm hoping the ivy won't hurt it but he ivy has been so slow of a grower.

That's it for the transplants. I do have more seeds I gathered but not from plants that I have. I got them from work when just working. I notice they had gone to seed and couldn't pass up grabbing some .I got a few Gerbera Daisy seeds and took a seed head of Scabiosa. I haven't tried to sow either of them but I got found two 4" pots that I forgot I had. I think I might wait until after I come back from my vacation.

A Thank You and A New Purchase

Salvia seeds from Wicked Gardener

Thank you to Wicked Gardener for sending me some Salvia seeds. Just received them yesterday and sowed the seeds right away. That knocks one thing off my list of plants that every San Antonian has but me.



Dragons Blood Sedum

I took another plant of my list that every San Anotonian has but me. Sedum, I swear everyone has at least one. I kept on seeing just the green ones that get HUGE. Then a shipment came in of the Dragon Blood and it was perfect. On Monday when I went to the the garden center they had quite a few Sedums but I was fighting the urge not to buy what I didn't come there for. I'm sure I'll go back and purchase some from there since they had some nice ones.

For me? How Generous!

Shade Container made at school.

Yet again I got more free plants from school. I just can't ever say no to getting these plants that I either grew from seed or in this case containers I made. It was a real struggle to find a place to put these guys. The shade container above was relatively easy since the only shade is my front door. My front door already has a container outside but it's not fairing well and I assume it's because the soil is too dense and things just die after sitting in there for a while.




My shade container has a Rex Begonia not sure the variety and some ruellia/mexican petunia. I hope it does well where I put it because I don't really have another place to put it. It looks nice out there for now. Lets see how long it will survive.


Really big container with Purple Fountain Grass and Sweet Potato Vines.

This container doesn't look too good now but I think it will look great once everything starts to grow. I got the slim pickings of the Sweet Potato vine since everyone wanted to use it. We didn't really have many choices but I like what I did. Even though someone copied me and I think they switched our tags because this one looks a bit meh (off centered etc.) and I don't remember mine looking that way at all. Plus I remember putting it next to my other container on the left side of the greenhouse and this one was on the right side far away from my other container. I'm telling you fowl play. The Sweet Potato Vine will still grow out the Fountain Grass come back to life. I might move this because I put it in the upper left corner of my balcony where it won't get blasted with sun right now. I know it can probably take full sun at least the fountain grass for sure.


Candlestick Plant (Cassia alata)

Our teacher said we could take the candlestick plants since they were left over from the plant sale. They are really beautiful plants once they get big with these great yellow blooms similar to a shrimp plant bloom. I took one even though I won't have space for it once it starts getting to larger proportions. Maybe by then I can swap it with someone locally or sell it to someone who wants a unique plant in their yard. I noticed yeseterday though they were infested with aphids. I'm not sure if they were like this at the greenhouse at school and that is why he wanted to get rid of them. Most likely it was just infested when it go to my balcony. I had noticed many ants around it and on the neighboring pansy. Ants on my plants means aphids are around. Not sure still if ants eat the aphids or eat the stuff that comes off of the aphids.First I cleaned off the leaves with a soap and water towel. Then I sprayed it with some soap and water and put it in the contamination corner/no blazing sun corner. I'll have to spray it again today and maybe for the next few days or weeks to make sure it's all gone.

By the way another seed offer for those that may want some. My pansies the yellow ones look like they will have seeds. The ants that got on them I think might have pollinated them or something because I see something that looks like a seed forming on two of them. If any of you want some pansy seeds of the yellow and purple kind just give me a holler and I'll gladly send some over.
Other seeds I have to give:
Red Yucca
Grape Hyacinth
Pink Snapdragon
White Columbine (was supposed to be blue and white)*coming soon still on the plant

I know these aren't unique but someone might want some.

Collecting my seeds!

Grape Hyacinth seeds 40 of them.

Going from a sad post to a happy post. I got some seeds collected. Another wonderful thing that makes me happy besides growing seeds is collecting seeds. Well, they weren't collected from plants I grew from seed. Even though the plants I didn't grow from seed I still get the great feeling of collecting them. To see the pods form and find that you will have seeds. Seeing pictures online of what the seeds and pod will look like still never prepares me for what I find. I love opening the pods and having seeds fall out.

My Grape Hyacinths long stopped blooming. Their pods finally dried up and I got 40 seeds from them. Now what will I do with 40 seeds that will take a while to make 40 bulbs? So if anyone out there wants some grape hyacinth seeds to sprinkle somewhere and be surprised a few years down the line when they grow drop me a line. I'm all for sharing and trading. Of course being a newbie myself I was thankful for the many that gave me extra seeds when my first attempts failed . Or when I was just looking for any plants to grow just to get my hands dirty and my balcony full.


Snapdragon seeds from just one pod.

Back a few months ago I had a snapdragon stalk snap off with some intense wind. There was one seed pod on it and I was very sad. I thought for sure the seed pod was doomed and I would get no seeds from it. Like many of my other plant ventures patience paid off. I kept that pod anyways and let it dry. Just a last week it was ready to crack open. Now if I had known the seeds were so tiny I wouldn't have opened it where I did. This was just one pod! So many tiny little seeds. I have 12 more pods drying up that I just took from a stalk a few days ago. The snapdragons are pink and they smell like candy. I love to sit outside by them and smell their fragrance and admire the white columbine at the same time. Yet again if anyone wants some snapdragon seeds drop me a line!!!

Also if any Austin gardeners or other southern gardeners want some red yucca seed I have many many of those too. I plucked some pods off the one plant in our apartment complex. I'm not sure if I'm a fan of the plant or not so I have been avoiding planting a seed. They are great for xeriscape gardens, tolerate heat, is a texas native, get 3 ft by 3ft, likes full to part sun, has coral flowers, blooms spring through summer, attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, is deer resistant and not effected by wind. So if you just want to try some seeds give me a holler, don't be shy.

Seedling Update: Green Thumb Sunday

Dimorphotheca African Moon all grown up.

I'm going to start with the big guys. This post is mainly for myself so I can have the dates down for my seeds in one place. Plus I'll give some information because I tend to forget after a while. The seedlings that were once small are now huge. The Dimorphotheca African Moon first seedling is huge. The others that were transplanted are getting there but not as big yet. Dimorphotheca aurantiaca African Moon likes dry areas and good for containers. It's an annual and attracts bees and butterflies. Also it self sows it's self and will flower in late spring/summer. Dimorphotheca aurantica likes full sun and will get around 12" tall.


Gaillardia Razzle Dazzle Mix all grown up.

The Gaillardia's are large now. They are the same size as the Dimorphotheca. The 2 or 3 pots are looking good but one is pot the Gaillardias are larger. They seems to like their section in the partial shadow of some pots. Gaillardia pulchellsa gets around 20" tall, likes full sun and hot areas, is good for containers and cut flowers.


Myrtle Spurge

My Myrtle Spurge is starting to get new leaves. I'm surprised I got the turn out I did from them. I wasn't expecting many or any seeds to sprout. For some reason I just thought that. Now I have around 7 seedlings. Euphorbia myrsinites likes full sun, likes it dry, gets around 12" tall or shorter, self seeds, blooms march - april, is a perennial, and is considered invasive in some areas. Planted in bonsai pots on 3-26-08 and sprouted on 3-30-08.


Rock Soapwort.

I purchased the Rock Soapwort because I wanted some trailing plants. I seemed to always pick the plants that are fillers and not thrillers or spillers. It took a while for the seeds to germinate but now there are 3 sprouts and probably more on the way. Saponaria ocymoides is a perennial that normally blooms in it's second year, it likes full sun to part shade. Good for rock gardens, hillsides, ground cover, containers, and hanging baskets. Saponaria ocymoides gets around 12" high or shorter, can withstand dry periods, likes light well drained soil, and reseeds. planted in flat on 3-28-08 and sprouted 4-7-08. Planted more on 4-6-08 has not yet sprouted.

I'll leave the rest for next time. This has taken me longer then I thought it would. Happy GTS!


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Grape Hyacinth Seeds

Grape Hyacinth seeds and opened seed pod.

My Grape Hyacinths made seed pods a few weeks ago. Since then I have been waiting for them to dry. I noticed some today were ready. I got 10 seeds so far and still some pods to pick when they are dried some more. I need to research a bit to see how long it will take to get anything from the seeds. Maybe I'll trade or give them to someone who can put them in their yard and be surprised one day when they show up.


All 10 Grape Hyacinth seeds.

New Seeds Have Sprouted

Mt Fuji Morning Glory

I planted many seeds on 3-28-08. There were new seed packets I bought and seed packets from the end of last year. I planted some seeds of seedlings that didn't make it over the winter and some that didn't germinate a few months ago.

The Mr Fuji Morning Glory I sowed popped up on 4-1-08. It only took a few days. I do have some growing but when they were inside something happened and they lost all their leaves. Since then they haven't really showed any sign of being good plants one day. Now I get to see what this new seedling will do. Hopefully it will fair better since it doesn't have to be inside.


Statice Sinuata Blend

My statice seedlings were the first of the new seeds to sprout. I'm excited one of my taller plants germinated. I have a habit of picking short plants for my balcony. That doesn't make a lot of interest so I made an effort to pick taller plants to grow. I've never heard of Statice or seen it. I'm not sure that I really like the appearance of the plant. All I know is that it is tall, drought tolerant, heat tolerant, likes full sun, good for cut flowers, and is a perennial here. I'm surprised so many germinated. I might have to do some trading of these extra plants.


Heavenly Angels Peony Poppy Mix

One little sprout has shown up of the Peony Poppy 4-2-08. I bought a mix that had a dark purple, white, pink, and red mix. I did grow these before but something happened to them inside while awaited the danger of frost to pass. They were doing good and growing well even though slowly then one day they just all dried up. I think they don't like to be disturbed. There were a few instances that the little peat pot fell over and the seedlings were disturbed.


Venus Poppy

There are many sprouts of Venus Poppy 4-2-08. This is another one that did well but it didn't make it. Possibly for the same reasons of being tipped over and disturbed. Now that the Poppies have a nice home outside in pots that shouldn't be in danger they should do fine, hopefully.


Nemesia Mello Red and White

This is strange. The Nemesia is doing well. The small seedling was actually the first to germinate. The largest seedling was the last one to germinate. I'm not sure what happened to have one grow so rapidly and the other not so much. The first to germinate also go really long and I'm not sure why.


Myrtle Spurge

Many of Myrtle Spurge seedlings came up. I'm excited to see how these transform into the grown plant. I never would have guessed that the seedlings would look like this. The Myrtle Spurge seeds were sown on 3-26-08 and sprouted 3-30-08

Other seeds that have germinated but don't have the pictures uploaded for:

Hare's Tail Grass- Sprouted on 4-3-08

Hyacinth Bean- planted on 3-27-08 and sprouted on 4-2-08...another seed planted on 4-2-08

Lavender Dwarf Hidcote- Sprouted on 4-4-08

Welcome Home Survivors

Laura Bush Petunia

I grew this Laura Bush Petunia from seed. This along with the Celosia were grown for my Herbaceous Plants class as a project. I now how to write a paper on the progress etc. Out of half a flat of seeds I only got 1 laura bush petunia and 1 celosia to make it. By the way the scientific name for the Laura Bush Petunia is Petunia x violacea.


Celosia

Here is my Celosia. It even has a bloom on it already. I don't approve of how the school takes care of their plants. I would prefer they do it organically but they use chemicals which kind of made me wish they would try the organic methods at least. Even though I planted the seeds I really didn't do much else with these plants. This is what I disliked about the project because I would have like to have watered them and fertilized them myself. The helpers there don't always do a good job about watering things. I had quit a few seedlings of the Celosia and Laura Bush Petunias growing but my flat happened to be the one that the misting system dripped on. They also didn't water my flat enough because many of my seedlings just dried up. By the way I really don't like the look of the Cockscomb Celosia which is what I planted. I should have done a zinnia or gloriosa daisy instead.


White Petunia

These white petunias were planted from plugs that the school got. We got to each plant a flat or two and several hanging baskets of Petunias. I'm not sure what happened to my flat but it disappeared. So I took someone else's ...shame on me but I wanted at least one.


Red petunias in a hanging basket.

Red Petunias

This is one of the hanging baskets. This also is not my basket. I couldn't find mine in the crowd of baskets hanging overhead. I'm short and have a hard time. So I nabbed this one after asking of course.

Also for school I planted some impatient plugs and cocktail vodka begonia plugs. I didn't take any of those home for several reasons. Impatiens wouldn't live with the blazing sun of my balcony. I already have cocktail vodka begonias I don't need more.

Sadly now i have to write a report on how badly my seed venture went. It's upsetting because I plant seeds all the time and I do very well with their success at home. Other students had several and I was the only one with so few to survive. That's okay because I don't have a yard to plant them all in anyways. That is my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

Take A Look At My Nook Continued

Left side of my balcony garden.

Last post I wrote about the right side of my balcony. Now it's time to see my left side. It doesn't have nearly as many plants as the right side does. The storage closet makes it difficult to pack in all the plants. It's the only corner/side I get some shade for part of the day. This is where I put plants that will fry on the other side. There is a downside to the left side besides the storage closet. The left side is where my glass sliding door is. The glass can really reflect the sun and sometimes makes it even harder to have plants live in front of the glass.


Lower left corner of my balcony

The lower left corner has the wanna-be bonsais and the plants that can burn or I just stick there just because. This corner doesn't change much at all. It changed yesterday and got some new transplants and a plant repotted. It got some seeds, lost a bonsai, and gained a plant in the course of a month. Even though this is my "shade" corner it really doesn't get much shade at all. My maiden fern does suffer here once winter fades away.



Starting on the left are some Stock seedlings that were transplanted from their other pot. It was getting too crowded for them in their old pot. I thought a new pot and plant in this area would be nice. Behind that is what used to be the variegated dracaena. I left it outside during the winter and don't think it lived. It's said to be a houseplant but the women who gave it to me had it outside but on her covered porch. I don't have a covered porch. Also in the pot with the maybe dead dracaena are some devil's backbone. The old women gave me the whole pot. The devil's backbone I think it's rather past it's prime and could possibly be thrown out. I'm just seeing how it fairs for the next month or two. In front of that pot is the snake plant. These are doing great and new leaves are coming up every few weeks. On the table starting in the back is the Weeping Dwarf Crape Myrtle Sacramento. The crape myrtle is doing wonderful I'm so excited about it. In front to the left is a peat pot with a hyacinth seed in there that will hopefully grow. The two bonsai pots next to the peat pot have myrtle spurge seeds. There are a few seedlings of myrtle spurge starting to come out. I'll show you the seedling later in the post. The last bonsai pot on the table has the Jacqueline Hillier Elm which I'm not sure made it through the winter. It was starting to get new leaves in November and since then lost it's leaves and hasn't had any signs of new growth. I can only hope it comes back like the Crape Myrtle did. To the right of the table in the back is the newly repotted Hibiscus Rose. It has about 4 buds that should be opening up at the same time in the next few days. It's be great to have more then one bloom open at the same time. In front of the hibiscus to the left is a black pot with the knotweed (it's been trimmed recently...it got really roughed up), snake plant, and some unknown green plant that hasn't really grown. The last pot has the ferns it in. Right now the Boston Fern is doing good. I think the Boston Fern does better on my balcony then the maiden fern. As you can see the maiden fern is brown on the edges. Just a month or two ago the maiden fern was lush and green. Now that it got hotter and the sun has gotten stronger it's not doing well. There are baby ferns that are very slowly growing.


Upper left corner of my balcony garden.

Lastly the upper left corner. This corner also doesn't change much. It hasn't changed in many months now. The last addition to this area was the snapdragon. Before the snap dragon nothing much had changed. When I got these plants and pots this was the first place I put them and the place they stayed. This corner is the most lush corner is my opinion. It used to be the most unlush corner when it started. When I bought the plants they were tiny and so small. They quickly grew in no time.



Starting on the left side. The pot on the left contains the Dianthus Pinnochio Mix and the Dr Ruppel Clematis. The pot next to it contains the pink snapdragon. The last pot has Campanula blue clips (not doing well and is still so tiny), Columbine Star Blue and Allium Joystick Mix (which hasn't turned out to be a mix at all). There is also some lemon balm usually on this side but it's to the side of the photo. The lemon balm is infested with spider mites. The spider mites have gotten on the columbine. I'm finally going to throw the lemon balm out like I should have many months ago. I don't use the lemon balm for anything and I don't really like the smell. The scent of the lemon balm reminds me of mosquito repellent. That is not my favorite smell at all.

That's it for the left side of my balcony. Now you have seen it all. Not very exciting I know. It will grow out and be great soon. I'm awaiting for my vines to take over the metal railings. I have the one corkscrew vine that is spreading it's self fast on the right side. The other corkscrew vine just started to grow out little vines and is near the center rail to hopefully start were the other corkscrew vine may stop. I wouldn't be surprised if they overlap. That would be scary if the corkscrew vine did grow that big...it just might.


The right side of my balcony with new pots and reorganized.

Since last post I have changed the right side. I told you it changes often. I'm constantly moving things when I get new seeds or plants. I moved some pots around like the corkscrew vine, the jasmine, the devils backbone and the evening primrose.


New Pots with transplants and seeds.

Some new pots moved in. I got the rectangular planters finally to put my parsley seedlings and dimorphotheca aurantica African Moon seedlings. I know they aren't spaced right and will get crowded soon but I just can't throw good seedling out. After all it's containers and things will be compact. The three little 4" pots have poppy venus, heavenly angels mix peony poppies, and lt blue mt fuji morning glory seeds in them. The large pot has English Lavender Dwarf Hidcote seeds in it. Now I get the thrill of looking for new spouts again.


Myrtle Spurge Sprout

Speaking of new sprouts. Here is the Myrtle Spurge starting to peak it's head of the dirt. I'm glad that it sprouted even though I'm scared. Just not so sure I will like this plant. I guess I will never know if I don't try right?


Godetia buds!

I'm very surprised by this discovery. My godetia has buds! I will get to see blooms of this plant after all. I thought it wasn't doing well since all the lower leaves browned and just fell off. It looks to be doing well enough that it will flower. This was the only seed that sprouted after two tries from the same packet. There are even some seeds left for me to try again some day. I'll wait until after the blooms to see if it's worth finishing off the seed packet for maybe a lucky seed to sprout.


Corkscrew vine making it's way up and to the left

Lastly I'll leave you with the beast of the balcony garden. I still can't believe this is the fasts largest growing thing I have right now. This corkscrew vine was the sickest plant I had just not to long ago. It had some mildew or something and all it's leaves fell off. Now it's climbing it's way up up up. The middle vine finally reached the second top bar. Now it is being wound to the left. The far left vine will get wound up the top bar. The far left vine will probably just get around the other bars...maybe. You can see I really didn't think it deeply about where I was going to wind these besides up and left. I'll figure something out I'm sure.

Sorry for the long post! There was just so much to say today.

New Blooms and New Planted Seeds

Hibiscus Rose

Over the past few days some new blooms have been appearing. I previously showed the pansy and it's bloom bloom. I have been awaiting for the Hibiscus to bloom. There are several buds on the Hibiscus but one was really rearing to go. Today I awoke to a wonderful site. The Hibiscus had bloomed and I finally got to see what it's flower looks like. It is gorgeous and you can see. I never really inspected a hibiscus bloom up close. Very beautiful and I love the color. I noticed that many things that are bloom on that half of my balcony are the same pink color. The snapdragon, the armeria, and the Hibiscus all with pink blooms. That's a sign I need to chose other flower colors.


Armeria Joystick Mix

The Armeria is starting to bloom. I thought this was supposed to be a mix what happened? So much for that looks like I'll be getting mainly pink blooms. I've never seen an Armeria so didn't really know what to expect from the plant. The foliage is very interesting and grass like . The blooms so far look to be very interesting. I like them so far even though they aren't fully open in all their glory.


Myrtle Spurge seeds have been planted.

Since my peruvian myrtle died on me I had one empty bonsai pot and another one I got to use. Well I don't see myself ordering any little shohin size trees to try again any time soon so I might as well use the containers for something. With all the posts I have read lately about Myrtle Spurge/Donkeytail I just couldn't help myself. I had purchased seeds at the end of last year. After I got them I did really want to have the plant anymore. Now I'm re-convinced that I can live with it. I planted them in the bonsai pots and hope for the best. I have no idea if they will survive in these shallow pots but I'm sure I can always repot them later. Lets see if anything sprouts. Remember I have good luck with planting seeds in pots and not flats. Now I probably jinxed myself and nothing will grow from pots ever again.