Category: Gardening

Photos from the second week in the garden are up, spanning from March 21 to March 27, and have been tagged “Week Two” in my Gardening 2010 album in my Picasa Web Albums.

I think I’m more than halfway through planting the seeds. What a long ordeal. I bought two packages of 5 ounce plastic cups before I started, four bags of seed starter mix, one bag of MiracleGro Moisture Control Potting Mix and Kim bought a larger bag of MiracleGro Potting Mix and I only have about 12 cups left and about a fifth of the big bag that Kim bought left.

See what I’m saying – and this isn’t everything, either.

And, I still have one packet of each of the following left to plant: Zinna Persian Carpet, Cosmos Psyche, Campunula Complete Mix Bellflower, Monarda Hybnda Bergamo, California Poppy, Cut Flower Wildflower mix and Bachelor Button double mixed colors. And, like a third of the Oriental Poppy packet.

Since I’m almost out of plastic cups, I think next I will have to start using newspaper to hold the seedlings. I got that idea from the Houston Lawn and Garden blog. Watch the embedded video below:

My ParkSeed order (finally) arrived on Tuesday. Even though I knew it would rain on Wednesday, I started putting these guys in my starter containers as soon as I got them.

Since I’m showing these off, I might as well show off the packages Corina and I bought when we went to Wal-Mart the other day.

There should be tons of color around the yard this season.

Photos from the first week back in the garden are up, spanning from March 13 to March 20, and have been tagged “Week One” in my Gardening 2010 album in my Picasa Web Albums.

Another shot of the moss roses back from last year is here.

My daughter, Corina, joined me in the garden today and we planted some Oriental Poppy (mixed colors) and Lupine (Russell’s Hybrids Mixed Colors) along the back of the flowerbed.

These two were among five seed packets we bought at Wal-Mart today for 20 cents each. We also bought orange California Poppy, Bachelor Button (Cyanus double mixed colors), and Cut Flower (wildflower mix). All of these packets are manufactured by American Seed.

My package of seed from ParkSeed did not come today, it likely will come tomorrow or Monday. No matter, since we’re expecting a cold front tomorrow which will last through Sunday. I won’t be planting the majority of this seed until Monday, after work.

We spent the rest of our time getting the containers that will house the seedlings ready. Not much fun, but it beats doing it later when I’d rather be sowing seed.

I looked at last year’s garden photos, and I guess it was around April 8 when I planted my first seeds. I started transplanting about a month later into my newly built flower bed, on May 10. So, I’m about three weeks ahead this year, with a whole different variety of seed. Here’s some photos from last year.

Today was all about the grass. I got 15 more squares of grass from Houston Garden Center today (Kim got 20 yesterday) and I spread them around the front and backyard. I had to dig up some dead grass before placing them down; and I murdered some grubs who have been enjoying a feast on my grass’ roots for way too long.

Since I was at Houston Garden Center, I couldn’t resist buying a 24 pack of color ($5.77); I chose Bronze Leaf Red Begonia. I then went to Lowe’s to get some MiracleGro Seed Starter Potting Mix, there I found a six pack of African Marigolds that I could not resist ($1). I also bought a packet of portulaca seed ($1.29), I wanted them because I discovered some volunteers from last year in my flower bed, and they need company.

Tomorrow will be all about the seeds, as I expect my shipment from Park Seed to be in. Check out what I ordered this year from ParkSeed below.

Quantity	Variety	Cost
3	Coleus Wizard Mix	$4.05
2	Dianthus chinensis Baby Doll	$1.50
2	Cosmos PsycheMix	$1.90
2	Mexican Zinnia Persian Carpet Mix	$1.50
1	Cosmos Happy Ring	$1.95
1	Monarda ‘Bergamo’	$1.95
1	Snapdragon Labella Mix	$1.00
1	Rudbeckia Cherry Brandy	$2.95
1	Blanket Flower ‘Arizona Sun’	$1.95
1	Snapdragon Night and Day	$1.25
1	Bellflower Complete Mix	$0.75

The wedding‘s over. Winter’s finally over, too. And I’m so excited about the upcoming gardening season, that I have started blogging again.

Today I finished cleaning out my flower bed in the backyard. Last year, when I started it, I put in four rose bushes that I bought from the Rosery in Needville, during their final sale. Now, I’m down to three rose bushes. One died at the end of summer last year, if I remember correctly. One of the ones that made it is the Carefree Beauty, and I’m looking forward to seeing it bloom in its second year.

This past weekend, Corina and I hit RCW Nursery over at Beltway 8 and SH 249. We got my friend Ben a pink hibiscus for his housewarming party. But that was just the excuse we needed to do some Spring garden shopping. Corina helped me pick out two tomato plants (they were $1 each). One of the tomatoes is called “Top Gun” and the other is called a “Beef Maestro” (see below). We also picked out three strawberry plants, one of which is a “Sequoia” and the other two are “Quinaults.” I hope these take off. I also got three different type of mint for Kim (she’s been talking about growing some, but couldn’t find any around Rosenberg). I got her a peppermint, a ginger mint and a chocolate mint. They should compliment the herb garden she’s starting nicely.

But more than anything else, I’m excited about the seeds that ParkSeed is sending me. The order shipped today! And it’s only a mere 10 days after I ordered them online, lured by a free shipping offer. I wish it stated “free, but awfully slow” shipping. The waiting is the hardest part. Anyways, a lot of seed is heading my way. I’ll detail it all and provide links in my next post.