June 2010
Wow! My Winter garden was an incredible success. The Blue and Pink Larkspur bloomed prolificly. The Statice (above) was nothing short of a perfect harvest. The Baby's Breath just needs a northern climate but I haven't given up on it yet--one more season at least--maybe.
My workroom is packed with dryed flowers and my Spring garden is just blooming now. Wish the Summer garden was as easy as the Winter garden. Now where to put all these flowers?
I have three types of gourd plants sending out their creepers. I have a canteen, a canon and a mini birdhouse type. I've got umbrella's shielding them from the hot afternoon sun and so far they are doing okay.
I wish I knew more about what makes a blossom produce a flower that doesn't rot before a tiny gourd is created. It's frustrating to get so many blossoms and so few gourds actually produce. It has probably has to do with the soil balance. Got to get my soil tested someday.....
July 2010
My garden soil is definately depleted with now about 10 seasons of flower production. I've got to get it tested and amended before I put in the winter crop.
My sunflowers were a great success (picture soon)--Teddy Bear and a Pro-cut Orange (what you see sold in all the stores). My Celosia is a challenge and is suffering from poor soil. We used to compost but ran out of places with full sun. It's clear I will have to "make" room! I love the celosia for DBD goods--it's a perfect dried flower. The rest of the garden is Globe Amaranth--and it's the healthiest and most bug free this season as any season I've had thus far! Still maturing though--it's a slow grower and produces seedlings in a warm soil so I can't just plant it earlier.
Well that's it for now. And the beet goes on!