Blue Bellflower, Coleus, Viola and Calabaza Seedlings

Blue Bellflower, Coleus, Viola and Calabaza Squash Seedlings

This morning I planted:

Blue Bellflower - Summer blooming in second year, 2-3' tall, perennial.

Coleus - Shady annuals, some will be planted in pot indoors.

Viola - Heirloom Johnny-Jump-Up variety.

Calabaza Squash.

Tomato, Squash and Thyme Seedlings

Tomato, Squash and Thyme Seedlings

Today I planted tomato, squash and thyme seedlings.

Heirloom tomatoes:
Yellow Currant - 70 days to yield
Red Currant - 65-70 days to yield

Hybrid tomatoes:
Fourth of July - 49 days to yield
Sun Gold - 65 days to yield

Burpee's Bounty Summer Squash - 55 days to yield
Calabaza Squash - 80 days to yield

Common Thyme - seedlings should emerge 14-21 days.

California Poppy Seedlings

California Poppy Seedlings

This morning I planted a tray of California Poppy seedlings that will go in the back yard. These are the state flower of California. They should sprout in 8-12 days.

Preparing the Vegetable Garden Site

Preparing the Vegetable Garden Site

I've begun to prepare the site for our vegetable garden. I'm taking out an area of grass that gets a lot of sun. The total area will be twice as big as what is already cleared. After I finish clearing, I will need to dig down the area 6''-12' and compost heavily.

Xeroscape Garden in Early Spring

Xeroscape Garden in Early Spring

Xeroscape Garden in Early Spring

I cleared off the xeroscape garden and many of the xeroscape plants are starting to come up. I also planted red Appledorn tulips that I found in my mom's garage. They were beginning to sprout, so I put them here. I plan to add daffodils and crocus in the fall.

Front Gardens Cleared

Front Garden

Front Garden

Front Garden

I cleared the front gardens from their winter mulch. Tulips, daffodils and hyacinths are getting ready to bloom. Many snapdragons in theses gardens survived the winter under a winter mulch of leaves.

Daffodils Starting to Bloom

Daffodils

Daffodils

Daffodils are about to bloom! Early blooming daffodils announce the arrival of Spring.  I planted these probably four years ago.

First Bloom of Spring

First Bloom

The first bloom of Spring is here! It's a purple grape hyacinth. Hurray!

Burpee's Tall Mix Snapdragon Seedlings

Burpee's Tall Mix Snapdragons

My snapdragon seedlings are starting to come up. They need to be thinned and turned in the window they are in. It is the Burpee's tall mix. There are also a few hollyhock seedlings planted in the tray.

Xeroscape Garden in Winter

Xeroscape Garden in Winter

This is a picture of our xeroscape garden this past Winter. It will be uncovered soon!

Vegetable Garden Area Preview

This is the area I am going to plant our vegetable garden. I need to take out the grass and compost it soon!

Heirloom Tomato Seedlings Tray 1

I planted the following heirloom tomato seedlings in tray 1:

Heirloom Tomato Seedlings

Stupice - 52 day until yield, small reds from Czechoslovakia.
Black Krim - 75 day until yield, larger, black in color.

Cherry tomatoes:
Black Cherry
Blondkopfchen
Koralik
Yellow Pear
Red Fig

The rest of the tray is California Poppy seedlings.

High Voltage Rose

High Voltage Rose

High Voltage is a strikingly yellow, disease resistant shrub rose.

Heritage Rose

Heritage Rose

The Heritage Rose was introduce by David Austin in 1984. It has a nice fragrance and old fashioned globular blooms in a nice peachy pink color. The blooms are short lived, but the plant blooms from May to August.

My mom at the International Rose Test Garden

Mom August 2010

This is a picture of my mom at the International Rose Test Garden in Portland.

The Alnwick Rose

The Alnwick Rose

The Alnwick rose is a David Austin released English rose named after Alnwick Castle in Northumberland. The castle was used in some of the Harry Potter films. The Alnwick rose was released in 2001 as the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland added to their gardens of English roses.

Belami

Belami

Belami is a hybrid tea rose, first cultivated in 1985 by Kordes. It is a very tall bush with well-shaped pink blossoms.

Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe is a hybrid tea rose introduced in 2002 by Carruth. It has a beautiful shape and has a lot of blooms. It apparently does best in hot dry weather.

Voodoo

Voodoo

Voodoo is a hybrid tea rose first bred by Jack E. Christensen. It was All American Rose selection for 1986.

Sweet Afton

Sweet Afton

Sweet Afton is a hybrid tea rose that was introduced in 1964 by Armstrong and Swim.