Planting Seeds and Gardening to take away my worries of Mom and #COVID19 #GardenCuizine #tuttoandràbene

Planting Seeds 
and making Rainbows!

The COVID19 pandemic arrived on the heels of mom having a nightmare hospital experience that landed her in a nursing home. Mom is so hard of hearing that we can't talk over the phone. We can't go visit with COVID19 precautions. And, now, we can't even do her laundry anymore. What can we do? We can follow the recommendations for staying safe, think positive and carry on. 

Children around the world are making rainbows and hanging their art in home windows. I'm going to make a rainbow sign with the Italian words: Tutto Andrà bene to show mom via Google Duo. She will love that. Everything will be all right!  And, in trying to be normal, today, I finally got a flat of seeds planted and under grow lights. Yay!

Seed starting indoors can be done any time. For our gardens, I have always started our seeds on St. Patty's Day; this is late for me.  

I never know just what I'm going to plant. The fun part is sorting through the many colorful seed storage containers piled high with thousands of varieties. 

Seeds store well in airtight baggies and commercial packets kept in a dark closet. Some seeds are pretty old; they keep for years. Keeping a garden journal helps me keep track of germination results.

Some seeds will be directly sown outdoors. I scattered some native seeds: Meadow Blazing Star and Echineacea Pallida yesterday. Seeds I selected so far for under our grow lights include the below list. 

For those of you reading this who have traded with me in the past, let me know if there is anything you want. I'm sure we can plan a safe swap with no contact driveway pick ups. When I get the next flat planted, I'll post the list.

SEEDS planted 2020 Happy Frog soil w/ pro mix
Plant	Sown	Germinated
1.      Moonflower Giant White 2018 Burpee	3/27	4/6
2.      2017 Chiltepin	3/27	4/10
3.      Petit Moineau Tomatoes 2017	3/27	4/3
4.      Salvia Fariosasa blue salvia	3/27
5.      Zinnia Giant Lavender 2016	3/27	4/2
6.      2014 Yvonnes Salvia	3/27
7.      2015 Goldman’s Tomatoes	3/27	4/7
8.      2018 large Heirloom Red	3/27	4/4
9.      Lady in Red Salvia	3/27	4/10
10.   Chocolate Cherry tomatoes 2015	3/27	4/4
11.   2011 Kiss Me Over the Garden Gate	3/28
12.   2018 green top red bottom heirloom tomatoes	3/28	4/2
13.   Salvia Splendens Vista Purple Lynn Weidman’s garden 2009	3/28
14.   2018 Coral Nymph Salvia	3/28	4/3
15.   2011 Italian Parsley comm seed	3/28
16.   Surprise seed ??? tomatillos?	3/28
17.   Sweet Basil meadowbrook 2009	3/28
18.   Zinnia Envy Ferry Morse	3/28	4/2
19.   Coronado Hyssop 2014	3/28
20.   Large white salvia 2010	3/28
21.   Zebra Heirloom tomato 2014	3/28	4/4

Be safe and Happy Gardening!
Andrà tutto bene!
God Bless you and your family - Diana
 
Blog post and photo Copyright (C)Wind. All rights reserved. Posted by Un po' di pepe in Amici e Famiglia, Italia, Italian life
Updated 4/3/2020

Why does it always rain when the Irises bloom? #gardenchat #gardencuizine

It Always Rains 

when the Irises Bloom!

Today is another chilly, rainy day in our Jersey garden. It's so cool, we even had a fire last night! I'll never complain about rain; but, why does it always rain when the irises bloom? Have you ever noticed that? 

For those of you who don't grow Iris, the blooms can get so heavy from the rain drops, they often tip over! This year is a stellar season for our Iris.

Carpet of Petals!

Our Kwanzan cherry tree blooms were amazing too. The flowers never last long enough though. The delicate petals fall off in mass like a pink snowfall and cover everything! It was a beautiful sight. Even the bird bath under that tree was full of pink! 

And, speaking of pink, Harry and I missed the Komen More than Pink walk yesterday in Philly. The weather was awful. All donations still counted. If you want to donate, Google "Senior Stars Komen walk Philly" and you will get my fund raising page. Our goal was $500.00. We still have a long way to go.

After several failed attempts, one black pussy willow shrub is finally well established. We have it planted near a bird bath so it gets water when the BB is refreshed. We got the plant from a Dave's Garden swap long ago. I miss those special events. The catkins are interesting when you look closely at them. Salix is an early bloomer and one of our first shrubs to bloom.

Wygelias, Tulip tree, Azaleas and Viburnums are blooming now.

Perennial Helebores and Baptisia are still blooming. The plant shown was from a DG swap too! Money plants and Easter plants like hyacinths, daffodils and tulips are all finished blooming now. 

Pink and white wave petunias and pink cascading geraniums will be planted in coconut fiber lined hanging baskets. Annuals will bring you joy all summer long!

As for our veggies, I didn't grow as many plants from seeds this year. I did plant our usual heirlooms that are hard to find at garden centers. They are now on my "to do list" to get them in the ground. 

In the next few weeks we will lug the bags of canna tubers up from the basement. They need to get in the ground asap too. 

We most likely will have extra heirloom tomatoes and cannas that will be offered for a good will donation at the Trinity Church, Moorestown, NJ, Blueberry Festival - June 21 at 5:00 pm. Come visit us!

What's growing in your garden?

Happy Gardening!

Blog post and photos Copyright (C)Wnd. All rights reserved.