Saturday, May 25, 2024

Miniature Dahlia Plants Waking Up. 25 May 24.

 Here are the miniature dahlia plants now.  The smaller ones are something like three weeks after planting.  I planted the other ones preciously.



If nothing else, this shows that the miniature dahlia tubers can be overwintered in their original containers, dry, with basically no trouble at all. Just kept in unheated garage, dry, in their pitting soil.

Strawberry Update. 25 May 24.

 Here are the container strawberry plants now.  They look healthy to me.

I gave them some general purpose fertilizer to promote growth.   They are in full sun on the deck, away from deer-favored areas.





Schlumbergeras Are In Their Summer Home. New Growth After Pruning. 25 Apr 24,

 I moved the Schlumbergeras to the north side of the house.  Last year they flourished there.  If placed in the sun, they dry out too fast and the pads develop permanent sunburn damage.


I wondered how they would respond to the pruning I gave them.  They are putting out healthy looking new growth now.



I gave them some general purpose house plant fertilizer today - Schultz's.  

Two others need attention, which I think I should do soon.  Pruning and repotting.

Planting Over-Wintered Dahlia Tubers. 25 May 24.

 I finally planted the over-wintered Dahlia tubers.   I had them outside and was watering them, but didn't plant until a few days ago.




It's only recent that they started to show signs of life.  I also needed to free up some tubs, because I want to grow them in containers.

I planted them very shallowly, and will fill in soil as they grow.

I'll post on the mini-dahlias soon.  They are also growing.


David Austin Roses In Containers. Update. 25 May 26.

 Here are the David Austin roses, in containers, on the deck now.

Boscobel.  It does have that spicy myrrh fragrence.  




Darcy Bussell.  I'm not noticing much fragrance yet.  Fragrance can vary a lot by time of day, warmth, etc so I won't give up from this first try.



I forgot to photograph "Bring Me Sunshine".  It's a little behind the other two.  It recovered fully from the initial loss of too-tender, weak growth (warehouse and shipping) that got blasted by the early hot spell.  Will post later.

Here's a mixed bouquet, David Austin roses and others.



Earlier, I posted I thought the red rose was Climbing Mr. Lincoln but in retrospect, it might be Don Juan.  The pink is Scepter'd Isle - strong myrrh fragrance.  The yellow is Vanessa Bell - good spicy tea fragrance.  The purple is Midnight Blue, a shrub rose with small flowers, strong clove fragrance.  The sort of pale apricot color is Tamara (I think), mild fragrance.  The white is John F Kennedy, no fragrance.  The splashy mixed color flower is the climber Tropical Lightening.  Last week I couldn't smell it, but today it's a classic tea rose fragrance.  

Edit:  Here is the "Give Me Sunshine" David Austin Rose plant, between the others.