A couple of days ago I planted a new rose 'Tamora' in an area that I've been wanting to add more roses to. The dirt in that area was pretty bad, but over the years I've been adding more and more compost which seems to have helped quite a bit. I worked in lots more compost around the planting spot for the rose. Then it was time to water it in. When I went to turn the water on that goes to the outdoor faucet I heard a very strange noise. As I walked outside to turn the faucet on I knew something didn't seem right. Walking back into the garage I saw water pouring from the ceiling and down through the wall. We had two weeks of record breaking cold back in December and we think that whatever water was left in the pipe must have frozen and cracked the pipe, but we didn't discover it until I turned the water on that flows through it to the outdoor faucet. We are lucky that there was a valve to turn the water off where the pipe comes off the water main and nothing was damaged. Looks like we have another project for the to do list, but luckily the soldering skills we learned this winter will come in handy for it.
Now for the good things going on around here:
These are my indoor seedlings. I don't usually start too much inside because of lack of space, but I do enjoy starting a least some. Here there are tomatoes, Morning Glory, Cleome, Verbascum, Nicotiana, Hibiscus, Amaranthus, Butterfly flower, Lupine and more. The only one that I'm having trouble with are the Morning Glories which germinate and then rot within a couple of days.
I've started two types of tomatoes; 'Black Krim' and 'Tigerella'. I really need to pot these up and see if I can separate a few seedlings.
The Amaranthus 'Love Lies Bleeding' has the prettiest colored seedlings. They germinated very quickly.
Lupines are doing pretty well. Not too many germinated, but I seem to remember that being a problem before too. I did nick all the seeds before I planted them.
Outdoors Daphne 'Summer Ice' is making the backyard smell delicious. This will bloom all summer and into the fall. I was happy to see it sent up a new plant which I'm letting get a little bigger before I try moving it.
Tulips have just started blooming. I planted these many years ago and they continue to bloom every year, where as others bloom one year and then never return. I'm glad these are the ones that return though, I love the coloring of them.
Visit Tootsie to see who else is "flaunting their flowers" this Fertilizer Friday.
It seems like once it's Spring it gets even busier around here and I haven't had a lot of time to visit very many blogs, but I will try to get to visit more over the next few days.
It seems like once it's Spring it gets even busier around here and I haven't had a lot of time to visit very many blogs, but I will try to get to visit more over the next few days.
Great post. And great blog!
ReplyDeleteI have a question for you: where did you get those "pots" for your indoor seedlings? I am really tired of the plastic!
Thanks a lot!
Greetings from Chile, SouthAmerica.
So sorry to hear about your water pipe....homeowners are never at a loss for things to repair.
ReplyDeleteWhat I know about Morning Glory's is they do not like to be wet..you probably could direct sow them in the garden I do. They return every year without fail..
Are you going to snip the weakest of tomatoes with scissors or actually try to untwine the roots?
Beautiful Love Lies Bleeding seedlings. I'll close with Tulip envy..
Max - Thanks for visiting! I've found those little peat pellets at nurseries and home improvement stores here. The often come with a little green house kit, but you can buy them separately too.
ReplyDeleteDarla - Yes, there's always something when you own a home isn't there?
I won't try to untangle the tomatoes, but last year they separated really easily. If they don't practically fall apart from each other I'll just snip them.
Catherine:
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot!
Coud you tell me some more? Like the name of the nurseries or home improvement store? Because I've never seen something like that here (amd my uncle is the owner of a nursery!) and I would like to buy some. How many times you can use those little peat pellets?
Thanks!
So sorry to hear about the water pipe but grateful it wasn't worse damage. Your Daphne and tulips are such pretty colors and I can almost smell the tomato plants from here! Hope you have a lovely weekend.
ReplyDeleteThat close-up of the tomato seedlings makes me hungry! I had 2-3 in each little pot, and was easily able to separate them at around the size of yours. You are going to LOVE the black krim :)
ReplyDeleteHi Catherine. Any chance your recall what type of tulips those are? I would love to see those come up every year & I swear I'm going to plant zillions of bulbs this fall!!! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteEverything you started inside sure looks good. I did it all outside this year because last year inside they took off like crazy but when I went to move them maybe I'm just too rough because they fizzled. I transplanted all of the 4 poppies the other day and wow what a root system they had. And they stood up so I'm thinking being directly out in the cold weather really helped - for me anyway.
ReplyDeleteGuess I'll do like you and take the lid off of the Larkspurs you gave me. Now I'm just going to go with the seeds I saved some of each and throw them out in the soil and see what happens. ;-)
Max - I found them at Fred Meyer, Home Depot (a large chain that has an online store too) and Molbak's here. They can only be used once, you plant them directly in the ground.
ReplyDeleteMichelle- I don't remember the tulips name, but I did find them at Costco.
ReplyDeleteCatherine ~ a bummer about the pipes! I was nervous about having such an episode here too..but one nice thing about an OLD house, is that we have a bit of a basement and the pipes stayed warm during the freeze. I am going to learn so much from reading blogs like yours! I want to learn to start seeds in the winter as I've never tried it before. Beautiful color of tulip too!!
ReplyDeleteyour seedlings are doing great! I have done morning glory in the greenhouse before, but found that they do not like to transplant so I just direct sow now...it's easier than anything....thanks for linking in today...looks great at your house!
ReplyDeleteCatherine:
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot!
Hi Catherine. Sorry to hear about your water pipe busting. Winter is hard on everything. Your tomatoes and lupines are looking great.Morning glories must like drier feet too. I have the same problem with verbena. They start out good and then die on me.I know I keep them too wet I think and they damp off.Have you ever tried Lantana seeds? I cannot get the silly things to germinate at all. I have soaked them and nicked them but they still will not grow. Thoroughly frustrating.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend.
Lona
Ah, Costco. The place where everything is bigger and better! All my fruit trees are from Costco... not to mention my balsmaic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil! ;)
ReplyDeleteEverything looks fantastic. And, keep a stiff upper lip, as full time spring weather is just around the corner.
ReplyDeleteI have never had good luck with morning glories either. And I am soooo jealous of your tomatoes.
ReplyDeleteAren't baby lupine leaves just the cutest things?
It's so exciting seeing new seedlings this time of the year. Must be spring. The tulips say it all!
ReplyDeleteI should have started seedlings inside. As I thought our weather would allow planting seeds outdoors by now. But that has not been the case. You are the smart one, and your seedlings are your reward!
ReplyDeleteBrenda
Sorry to hear about your burst pipe what a nuisance.
ReplyDeleteThe Morning Glories probaably need more heat than the other plants, I know alot of people herein the Uk dont start them off yet until the weather warms up
Catherine, it really is spring time in your garden~The tulips are just now popping up and showing us their buds~We must be a few weeks behind you...I just read your About Me and applaud your goals to teach your daughter to be an individual...Way to go! The hardest job in the world is being a parent! gail
ReplyDeleteCatherine - very nice tulips. The seedlings are looking good. I love nice smelling blooms.
ReplyDeleteyeah for seedlings! I like the quote you have up top about gardens and anticipation.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I really have to avoid every page of the tulip catalog except the Darwins. Soemtimes I fuss with the others to make sure they return but for the most part I too like the "drop 'em in the hole and forget it" ones that come back all on their own.
The tulips are so delicately coloured. Your seedlings seem to be doing pretty well! Have a nice weekend!
ReplyDeleteThe tulips are gorgeous! I wish we could grow them here. My morning glories are doing extremely well! So far 80% of my seeds are growing. There are the slower ones, such as the coneflowers, that have yet yo appear. I still have plenty coneflower seeds I didn't plant that I will free sow
ReplyDeleteI love your Daphne. How wonderful that it has such a long bloom time.
ReplyDeleteHi Catherine.
ReplyDeleteYou could always replace that entire section of pipe with a plastic one, save it happening again.
You have so many seeds on the go. Those little plug pots on the top photo are called jiffy 7's in the UK.
Your photos are really sharp!!
Hope the spring weather returns soon.
I want a daphne shrub so badly! They smell awesome, just like Froot Loops to me :D
ReplyDeleteI love your starter pots too. It's great that you can put them right into the soil. Things are looking good. My morning glories reseed themselves each year but when I want new colors or what not, I soak the sees for a day and then plant them outside directly. I think they like it warm. Thanks for sharing the photos.
ReplyDeleteOoooh I'm so envious~I don't have enough room to start seeds inside so I make do. Sometimes I have success and sometimes not :(
ReplyDeleteOh well, I keep on trying! I'll definitely be visiting again!
We can sympathize with your water pipe, we've had to do similar repairs here a few times!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad I'm not the only one that has trouble with lupine. Been trying to grow a native variety, but the germination rates have been really low, even with scarifying the seed. Think I'm going to have to try again.
Catherine, thankfully you nipped that water problem in the bud. ;)
ReplyDeleteYour seedlings all look wonderful and healthy and especially those tomato plants... you have the thumb!
We have had rain the last several days but currently the sun is shining so guess where we are headed. Have a wonderful weekend.
I'm sorry to hear about the pipe bugaboo!! Your seedlings are beautiful, "good on ya"! I just love your blog. Have a great day and best of luck with the pipe project.... Cheers, Bonnie
ReplyDeleteI remember when I had a big garden when living in NY. I lived in an old farm house..and as soon as I could I would have all the windowsills full of seedlings. You're right...it's the anticipation before the snow leaves the ground.
ReplyDeletewww.wildlifearoundus.blogspot.com
I've always been a little afraid to try tulips. They don't last long, the deer will eat them, etc. But I did plant some last fall, so we'll see! I did also put in species tulips, which are supposed to be better behaved. Yours are lovely!
ReplyDeleteKudos to you for knowing how to solder (sp??) ~ that will come in handy lots of times in life I bet. I wouldn't have the slightest idea how to do that! I hope you have your water pipe fixed soon.
ReplyDeleteYour seeds are looking great. Did you soak your lupine seeds overnight? (after nicking them) That seems to help with germination. I love lupines ~ they're one of my faves but I've never tried growing Amaranthus ~ I like the red stems. Good to know they germinate easily ~ maybe I'll give them a whirl.
Have you tried putting some grit around the morning glory seedlings? That might help with the rot. Good luck!
Catherine,
ReplyDeleteGlad you were able to save yourself from any potential damage with the water pipe. Your tulips are just beautiful. We are just beginning to see ours poking up through the soil...won't be long now. :)
Good luck transplanting the babies, Catherine. The tulips look gorgeous and so are the Daphnes. I haven't seen many fragrant blooms that aren't showy.
ReplyDeleteI've had problems with morning glories too - I get them to about 4 inches high then the leaves start to go brown and die off.
ReplyDeleteI have a daphne about to open its blossoms too and my tulips are just poking their noses through the soil - so relieved that they have made it through the winter. I don't lift mine each year and hope they come back the next too.
I can relate too to time commitments at this time of year - the weeds in the garden have not germinated yet but once they do I will have even less time to spend on the computer. I think us garden bloggers will all be in the same situation.
Enjoy whats left of your weekend Rosie :)
Lovely lovely spring flowers so beautiful.I can almost smell them from here. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you were able to turn the water off so quickly....how cool that you can solder yourselves - I am very impressed. I always love your flowers, but today, the Tulips are my favorite. I love the pink/peach colors.
ReplyDeletePS. I always had problems germinating Morning Glories too.
Enjoyed seeing what you are growing Catherine. Will be interested to hear what you think about the taste of your tomatoes when it's time to munch them. Hope that you have eventually have success with your morning glories. I always soak mine overnight in tepid water before sowing and have not had problems germinating them touch wood up to now. I do not use peat pellets though and wonder whether that could be the problem. When spring arrives there never seem to be enough hours in the day does there? :)
ReplyDelete