Sempervivum and Sedum. 7.28.2020

This Spring I stuck a lot of cuttings from Sedums I had around the yard, into this planter by the mailbox. I also planted a start from the Sempervivum from my parents (grandparents before them). I think this is one of my favorite garden details now. The sedum cuttings take almost no effort - just cut pieces from the old plants, use a stick to make holes and stick the cuttings into the holes. I barely even watered them.

This spring I stuck cuttings of sedums, and a start of sempervivum, into this planter by the mailbox.  7.28.2020

Chestnut Graft. 7.28.2020

Late last winter I grafted chestnut varieties onto branches of the Marissard seedling chestnut tree. The reason is that tree is about 15 feet tall and still not blooming. They all appeared to take, but when I unwrapped one of the Marigoule grafts, it fell off. So that one appeared noncompatible. This Marivale graft looked OK and continues to look good. These were all whip and tongue grafts.

This tree is upwind of the others.  I want it to at least produce some pollen for those trees.  Marissard is not considered a pollen producer, although it's hard to know what a seedling would do.  If I had it to do over again, I would not have used that variety or a seedling, but I don't have it to do over again.  So attempting grafts is the next best thing to try.

Maravale Graft on Marissard Seedling Chestnut Tree. 7.28.2020

Maravale Graft on Marissard Seedling Chestnut Tree. 7.28.2020

Saving Seeds. Taiwan Sugar Snow Pea. 7.28.2020

This Spring I planted some old Taiwan Sugar snow pea seeds that I saved about 6 or so years ago.  About 2/3 of them germinated and grew. They were earlier and the plants were smaller, about 4 to 5 feet, compared to the Oregon Spring ones that I grew, about 6 to 7 feet tall.  It was hard to find new seeds of these online, so I saved seeds again.   Some are brown with crispy shells, which I think is how they should be.  Some are green and larger pea, but the shell is brown.  I think those need  a longer drying time.

These are the dried and drying snowpea pods.  I think the ones that are not fully dry will be OK once they are dried out. 7.28.2020

These are the shelled snowpea seeds.  I will let them dry some more then store them in an envelope.  7.28.2020

Flowers and Some Honeybees. 7.28.2020

This is kind of prime season for a lot of summer flowers. Some are volunteers or perennials, some are grown from seeds and a couple from transplants.

Volunteer Cosmos.  Very pretty white.  7.28.2020

Tigridia, survived the winter and now blooming. m 7.28.2020

Dahlia.  I think this was a tuber in a box at Winco this winter.  7.28.2020

Shirley Poppies.  These seeds were a couple of years old.   First time growing them.  Honeybees love them.  7.28.2020

I grew these Echinacea from seeds a few years ago.  I didn't know if they would survive.  They did.  7.28.2020

I grew this rose from a cutting about 15 years ago.  I forget the name.  7.20.2020

These gladiolus were from a box at Winco.  They should survive the winter, so I"ll leave them there.  7.28.2020

Yellow Cosmos, a volunteer among the squashes.  7.28.2020

Another Dahlia from a grocery store box.   7.28.2020

Zinnia from a 6-pack.  I had trouble getting the seedlings to grow this year and something ate them.  6.28.2020

Another zinnia from that six pack.  6.28.2020

Another Shirley poppy full of honeybees.  6.28.2020

French marigolds from an old seed packet.  7.28.2020

African Marigolds from an old seed packet.  So far they don't look great.  7.28.2020

Another rose I grew from a cutting about 15 years ago.  7.28.2020

Better Bud Patch Graft. 7.21.2020

These are the bud patch grafts that I did, "Sunny Day" peach leaf curl resistant peach on Lovell rootstock, about 4 weeks. Today I was able to get out into the garden with my better camera. Still recuperating but each day is a bit better. I think it's time to cut off the top of the tree, to encourage the bud to grow. I can keep these out of the worst of the winter, so I'm not too worried about the growth needing to be too cold resistant.

Bud Graft, Peach "Sunny Day" on Lovell.  About 4 weeks.  7.21.2020

Bud Graft, Peach "Sunny Day" on Lovell.  About 4 weeks.  7.21.2020