Gertrude's Flower Garden Weekly Diary

1/18/02 - On nice days, I still get out into the garden to pick up small branches that the wind blows from a large, old oak tree that is on my neighbor's property. We were wll sad to hear that this lovely tree was probably dying from a disease that blocks the flow of sap from the roots to the branches. It will probably have to be taken down in the spring, but the aborist wants to wait until then on the chance that it revives and puts out new growth. There are also a few other leaves nestled into corners and around bushes that I rake, bag, and put out front on trash day. Many years ago, I subscribed to the idea that leaves should be left on the beds, and even that leaves should be raked from the lawn onto the beds. The idea was that these leaves would be a mulch that would protect the perennials and bulbs over the winter. When I came to rake the leaves off the beds in the spring, however, I found that the bulbs and perennials had put out long white sprouts that were trying to push their way through the layers of leaves. Many of these early growths were broken off in removing leaves, thus delaying development. Ever since this experience, I have kept the beds clear in winter of everything except snow.
The seedling factory in the cellar is going full steam. Of the twenty-six varieties of seeds lined up for planting this year, sixteen have been planted. I have also begun to transplant, and, so far, have a flat of 69 white Star zinnias under one of the shop lights. Some of these were a little small to handle, but I wanted to get started before I have too many ready at once. Under shop lights and waiting to grow large enough to transplant are yellow Star zinnias, dwarf ageratum, petunias, Dahlberg daisies, heliotrope, browallia, and Periwinkle vinca. Still on the warming pads germinating are impatiens, lobelia, blue salvia, and nicotiana. One of the seeds just planted was geraniums, "World's Top 6 Mix F1 Hybrid." Inside the paper seed envelope were six tiny foil envelopes each containing five or more seeds. I emptied the seeds onto a saucer and planted them, using tweezers, one or two seeds each in a four-opening container, and then identified them each by putting the empty seed packet, which was printed with the variety's name, in a corner of the container. Now they are sitting on a warming pad covered with a plastic top. I will let you know how they do--they are one of my "fun" projects this year.
This week's picture compliments last week's picture of the front garden. This is the back of Gertrude's garden as seen from the second floor window of the master bedroom that overlooks the back garden; it gives you an idea of the outline of the beds and the general layout of the garden, although you can't see the beds close to the terrace and glass room. If you look at some of the June/July pictures that I have put here over the last three years, you will see how summer's flowers change things. I will try this year to take a similar picture that you can compare with this one,

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