Update ~ Winter Bulb Garden

Hi! As February draws to a close, let's check the indoor forced bulbs I planted mid- to late January/ For most, this is about 5 weeks of growing, only the amaryllis was started in early January.

But she is a star! So easy, so rewarding. So beautiful. Seventh year of bloom, I think.

Blooms lasted two weeks; now she will be a leafy ''houseplant'', watered and fertilized until I can put her out on the deck for summer and fall.

The blue amaryllis planted mid January is still just a nubbin, but it does show green. It was a very small bulb [2" or less], may take a few years to flower.

below, after 6 weeks.

                                              

The Paperwhites have been another No-Fail performer. This year is best ever.

The strong scent has been reduced, through breeding?--many found the rotten diaper smell off putting. [as one does, lol]These were almost scentless. 

I love watching the daffs sprout and grow!

Another improvement--they are still standing straight and strong. Flopping over as soon as they bloomed was another negative that has been successfully addressed, it seems. 

Or this year I just got lucky?

Another great result is my blue hyacinths from my Fall garden store trip. My friend was funny when I told her that's why we go--she said she thought it was for pumpkins and baby goats. But no! This year I bought these gorgeous blues and colded them off in the dark under a bench in my unheated entryway.

Just so beautiful. Lightly scented.

The first single bulb in my hyacinth vase did well too and bloomed within a couple weeks. 

The second try was a stunted bulb from the larger vase; it rotted and was discarded finally.

I do change out the water every week for fresh cold  refill. This bulb turned the water murky immediately, a sign of mold or decay.

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Tulips: the Tulip World prechilled have grown but look pathetic.

These are supermarket tulips from last Easter. I saved and dried them, to give to friend but never saw him at planting time. Finally I planted them in one of my dumpster-found delft pots and though slow growing, they look really hopeful.

The big disappointment is the tete-a-tete tiny daffs, ordered from Tulip World and supposedly chilled for indoor forcing. They had green tips when planted.

 

now:

They all look awful. I will keep them for awhile even though the tiny daffs are here in the stores already, 3.99 for a 4-6" pot, depending. I am unhappy, I really had high hopes for these minis, my favorite daffodil.

My dad bought pots every year for my mom's birthday and Easter. After they were done blooming, he'd plant them outside under the kitchen window for my mom and him to enjoy  as the tiny hopeful little yellow daffs regrew and carpeted the woodsy yard each year. My mom thought it was all so magical, so Cape Cod where such replanting was possible. She'd send me pressed specimens in our joint journal each April.

So I'll be patient, while maybe a Trader Joe's indulgence may bring home some already blooming while I wait. And here is a lovely YouTube vid from Jane at Snapdragon Life. She does her indoor bulbs differently, an easier method. She simply repots growing plants in her array of beautiful containers. HERE  Like my dad she then replants the used bulbs in her garden. click HERE

I highly recc Jane's weekly newsletter/email and videos, talented and interesting woman.

The tulips, paperwhites, and the tete-a-tete mini daffs were from, I think, Tulip World. HERE   They still have paperwhites which as shown performed beautifully. Very much on sale.

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Off topic, this week I got my 5th Covid booster. Late bec it had to be done in a lull between IV clinic appointments; I am immune suppressed by the treatments and vaxx #5 was urged if timed carefully. The nurses were kind and friendly, always worth noting here where rude and rushed at best are the norm. I mention this to say---I had no side effects at all. Well, yes, chills---house was freezing/ high winds!/ and headache--car died again. Can't blame that on the vaccine.

Vaccine day at a local church, just walk in, no wait.

 I was so afraid to get this vaccine #5. So many people have said it made them very ill. I want you to know that may not always happen and the protection is worth the effort. Be smart!

Have a great week.

love 

lizzy 

gone to the beach.....

Speaking of Trader Joe's--- their flowers never fail to delight me. I could fill a cart with bouquets.

note that price!

scribble journal, mid to late February.

Out and About

 

Hi, friends! A Friday good evening on this dark rainy day. Gale blowing but not cold, so that's okay.  

In the past few week the weather has been unusually mild, if rarely sunny, so despite the resurgence of Covid here, I have been getting out and doing some fun for me shopping. Valentines Day was long in the past in the retail world though.

In early February L and I made it to the annual winter sales event at Home Goods, when the store  features boho/ hippy resurgence / summer of love/70's items from India and other exotic lands. Of course I adored these  temple bells [camel bells?].

Good thing I only noticed the hearts and birds when editing photos or these would be hanging on my deck's eaves come summer annoying the crap out of my neighbors.

I love this chair!

Seemed made from Indi handwoven rag rugs.

Various decorative items, not needed but I admired.

Lovely beachy wicker table, might have bought it if it wasn't winter here and good sense prevailed. 

               

Early, summery coastal displays 

This lounge chair would be so great for me and Mo, for our deck and summer sewing time.The cushion seems like a misfit tho?

Much much Easter! Easter overload!

[Which is even now two months away. ] 

Wreaths were big.

Love the blue egg wreaths.

And bunnies.

The only Easter item I was tempted by were these pretty blue glittery eggs:

I don't have a picture but I got the most amazing imported pappardelle, Italian egg noodles, plus pumpkin sage couscous. And these amazing crackers from Seedz. Addictive. Home Goods' aisle of gourmet goodies is surprisingly bountiful. I have liked everything I bought recently.

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Also have been going to our little local Target. This week as the staff removed Valentine's Day from the dollar bins, the stock people were setting out fun Easter displays---and this time I did go for it. 

Things for kiddie friends who visit me now to color and paint! Coloring books, fingerpaints. 

Wind up toys for Mo. Who was baffled! My previous pug loved wind ups, oh well. The sherpa fabric is so stylish, isn't it. LOL.

Cute $1.oo dishtowel sets, not shown. Love the woven chickies and bunnies.

.Fun egg crate and wooden eggs. I'd like to fill the crate with grass and moss and primroses.

The crate can be repurposed later as a thread spools or ribbons holder.

Everything was a DOLLAR! Puts our expensive Dollar Store to shame.

......

Back home, delightful walks with Mo, at a reasonable 5 PM, pre dinner. Sunset is at 5.30 now, what a blessing. We look for things to draw in our various nature books, but there's not much. 

Some daff shoots, some snowdrops,

 and photos of lichens and moss for the uncertain perpetual project.

Have a fun weekend.

love

lizzy

gone to the beach....