Big Box Store Peonies. 4.1.19

I bought these Peony roots today at Home Depot. I actually love shopping there, but like the Dahlia tubers that I just posted on (from other chain stores), these peonies area pretty picture with a hopeful thought.

Of the two, the Itoh peony root was in better shape.  The roots looked reasonably firm, and there were several viable looking buds.  Of the herbaceous (Sara Bernhardt) peonies, one looked viable, with a somewhat thick root and a couple of buds.  The other was so dried out and hard, I dont think it has a chance.  I couldn't tell which way was up - really a poor specimen.  Still, I planted them all.  I also included some organic vegetable fertilizer in the soil.

These are OK for the gardener who loves a challenge, who is willing to wait possibly several, even many, years for the first blossom, and who is willing to give TLC along the way.  But they are not worth the price and garden space if one wants something healthy, vigorous, and likely to bloom in a year or two.

We'll see!

Big Box Store Dahlia Tubers. 4.1.19

Starting Some Dahlia Tubers Early.  4.1.19

These are packages of dahlia tubers that I bought earler this winter and stored until now.  I hesitate to describe them, lest I be shown to be gullible, but here we are.  Those little boxes with "1" on the label?  Basically you are buying a pretty picture.  The tubers were dead looking, most hanging on to the central stem by fibers, not a living connection.  As I understand it, most of the time, the living bud is on the stem, or near it.  The "Joy of Gardening" tuber was almost as bad.  The multipack "Joy of Gardening" dahlia multi-package did contain some that looked OK.  Maybe most of them.  But in most of these cases, the consumer is buying a pretty picture.

My goal here is to get them started  growing.  If they do break dormancy and plants grow, I'll either plant them in the garden or in containers.   I trimmed off the tubers that were hanging on by fibers but no apparent living connection.  Then I planted them  in potting soil, covering the tubers but not deeply.  I'll keep them in a warm place until the start growing.  I think most of them still have a chance.

More Perennials, Out of Dormancy, Growing Fast. 3.29.19

Oriental poppies.  Transplanted mid summer last year when dormant.  3.29.19

Cammassia clumps have begun to grow. Doing well.  3.29.19

Leocojum, transplanted from the old place.  Herbivores dont bother them.  3.29.19

Some of the violets settled in and are blooming now.

Planting Pawpaw Seeds. 3.29.19

Pawpaw seeds,  These are cultivar "NC-1".  3.29.19

Today I planted most of the pawpaw seeds. I followed online instructions, published by Kentucky State University. They were stratified in the fridge, packed in wet paper towel in a ziplock bag, and kept in fridge since mid October.  Occassionally, I checked on them, rinsed i  cold water and changed the paper towel so it would not mildew or become moldy.

I scarified a few of the "Sunflower" pawpaw seeds by rubbing them on moderate coarseness sandpaper.  The rest were planted as is.

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Now it may be a few months before they sprout, if they  do at all.  I don't know what I will do with the trees, if they do grow.  Plant a few here, maybe, and give some away.

The pots of planted seeds are in the sunroom for warmth.

Emerging Perennials. 3.#9.19

Bearded Irises.  3.29.19

Bearded Irises in Border, Bark Mulched.  3.29.19

Itoh Peonies.  3.29.19

Euphorbias. 3.29.19

Sedum.  2.29.19