The temperatures has been in the 50°s and high 60°s here lately. The daffodils, lilies and rose are trying to make their yearly debue. Unfortunately, the temperatures are rumored farecast to start dropping and the new growth will probably be bit back. Fortunately, the temperatures will warm up again soon and the new growth will began again.
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Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday!
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Playboy Tree Rose
Marigolds
Onion Chives
Wishing you all a lovely weekend!
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My accidental rose cutting is thriving in the herb bed. I planted it close to the birdbath in hopes of giving it a bit of protection through the winter. I plan to transplant it next Spring to a more open spot. 
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I noticed some baby basil plants growing on the ground by the adult ones. I decided to try and get a couple to grow indoors for the winter. I have my doubts as to how long I can get them to survive in the house, but it’s worth a try. I found two nice size basil seedlings snuggled down between the rocks and stems of the adult plants. They’ve been quite well protected. I transplanted them in a small pot.
I put netting over the pot to keep the bugs out. Our nights are quite cool now and since the babies don’t have the same protection around them, I bring them in at night and set them outside during the day.
Hopefully they’ll continue to thrive and I’ll have fresh basil for a while.
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My herb bed is full with the matured plants. It’s quite crowded and messy.
I’ve enjoyed my herb bed. I’m sad to know that soon it’ll go to sleep for winter.
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My plans for next season are already in the making.
Just 5 to 6 months and
I’ll be back out there starting the gardening season again.
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Around the first week of July some critter broke a little stem a few inches long off my red rose bush. I brought the stem in the house and put it in a 3 oz. Dixie cup of water. I figured it would sit there and probably die, but I didn’t have the heart to throw it away.
I checked the water everyday and added water when it was needed. I was surprised, after a week that it looked like the stem had tiny root buds. The leaves were still healthy, but I clipped them off to hopefuly help it expend it’s energy on rooting.
I didn’t know roses would root in water. I read up on roses rooting in water and apparently it does happen but the survival rate is quite low. The roots grown in water aren’t like the roots grown in soil. I added potting soil to the cup and kept it watered almost muddy.
A week later I noticed some buds trying to grow. After another week I transplanted it to a small flower pot. I’ve kept it outside on the backporch in the shade and set it in the sun a few hours everyday when the weather allows.
The rose cutting has rewarded me with some healthy new leaves.
It’s doing so well. Before too long, I’ll need to transplant it in the ground, but I worry about it surviving the winter. Anyway, for now, I’ll enjoy it’s progress.
This rose cutting is my best success at rooting a rose and it was an accident. A happy accident.
Have you had any happy accident with growing flowers?
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Our squash and cucumbers are producing well. Maybe a bit too well.
Our onions have grown well too. The onion patch is almost ready for a complete harvest.
Despite the critters, our beans are trying to produce. Luckily, we had enough for a small cooking of them.
We’re happy to have our first tomatoes, even though they need to sit a few days to completely ripen.
Yep, we are quickly becoming squash poor… 😀
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Our corn is tasseling and getting silky ears. I can hardly wait for the first sweet harvest and cooking.
Our garden is at that special point where it’s not pretty and clean anymore. But it’s producing and that’s the important thing.
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We went ahead and dumped the wilty potato plant bucket out. The plant was rotten down in the bucket. I guess there was something about it that made it fail to thrive.
The potato plant in the bucket that we have left is gorgeous. It’s healthy and green and has little buds ready to bloom. Hopefully it’s well on the way to growing a potato or two.
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Recently, we bought a couple of rose bushes.
We haven’t had any in years and thought it might be fun to have some.
Plus they might attract a few more butterflies.
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The ‘yellow hybrid tea rose’ is attracting japanese beetles and insects, but the red ‘knock out’ rose is bug free. I reckon the yellow rose must be sweeter than the red one. Over the past couple of weeks we’ve seen a few japanese beetles in our corn. But now that we have the roses, the corn is beetle free. Honestly, we’re glad the japanese beetles are attracted to the rose and leaving our corn alone. I use the old stomp & squish method to control the japanese beetles. Hopefully, I won’t have to resort to pesticides.
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There’s never a dull moment with gardening. It’s a lot of work, but it’s enjoyable work and the rewards are a beautiful bounty.
I hope you all have a pest free week full of beauty and goodness.
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Rio Samba Rose Bud – 2008
Joys Of Creating 