Dahlia Update. 4 Jul 24.

 Here's an update on some of the dahlias.

First, the minis overwintered from last year.

Big ones that I overwintered.

I'll have to add the ones i grew from seeds later.  They are among the four o'clocks in the border.

All of the Other Geraniums, Update. 24 Jun 24.

 They are taking off and growing well.    Overwintering them is very rewarding.  They are much larger and fuller than new starts.

These as of 4 Jul.  All are in the border now, to be out of the way of the siding contractor.

Two of these were cuttings over the winter.  The third and largest was the original plant, three or four years old now.

Above is the parent plant.  I got the photos reversed.  Below is the other one I grew from a cutting.

Not much difference between the new plants from cuttings, and the original older one.

Here's a new one.  I forgot to photograph the new white one too.

I decided to take a few cuttings, event though I don't need more,  They are nice in the window.

Flowers. 4 Jul 24.

 So nice flowers blooming, mainly the patio container garden.

It's been a challenge, keeping up with the garden.  Lots of changes happening with the house, and getting the Vancouver house ready to sell.  Fortunately the patio flowers are thriving.

I did have to move them due to new HardiBoard siding about to go up next week - fire resistance plus the old T1-11 is going to need replacing anyway.   Being in containers and having a rollable cart helps a lot.

A lot of the flowers are overwintered, older plants that put on lavish shows now - like that dahlia, some of the day-lilies, the Alstroemerias, and others.  Very little trouble and very rewarding.  The ruffled day-lily is Molokai - one of the dried out starts that I gave TLC to this late winter and Spring.

Miniature Roses Update. 25 Jun 24.

 These are the grocery store roses that I bought, after Valentines Day, on sale, and gave lots of TLC.

The yellow one, I think is "¿SunMaid?", doesn't seem "miniature" now.  More like "small".  Beautiful rose with beautiful flowers.

Planted singly, one in a container -

The other four from the container, planted together in a much larger container -

It's a very nice rose, and seems ideal for a medium - size container situation.  

All I do now is prune back a bit after blooms are spent, and give a dilute bloom fertilizer.

Here is second red rose, I think is "Daniela".  This is its first re bloom after repotting and adapting to home life.  This is one plant in a pot by itself.  It grew two vigorous new stems.  This one remains much smaller than "SunMaid" but is a bit larger than the other red rose, "¿Danika?.  The flowers are like miniature versions of classic, deep red, hybrid tea roses.  Beautiful clusters of buds surrounding the first open flower.  The foliage is a rich, deep green.  The thorns are red, very attractive on green stems.  This mini rose bush responded very well to potting into good potting soil, and ongoing TLC.  Mostly I keep it outdoors in a sunny place, but now aiming for a bit less sun in blistering hot weather.   The other plants from the same original pot, are in a group container and a bit behind the single plant.

The first red rose, "¿Daniella?", is also nice, more delicate looking, and has rebloomed twice so far.  It can't handle heat or bright sun, which chars the flower edges.  Still, in some shade, it can be quite pretty.  So far, this rose remains the most compact of the grocery store miniature roses that I have bought.   Post bloom, mostly, I've pruned it back,  set it in a less sunny location and treating like other smaller potted plants, keeping it watered, and giving low doses of general balanced plant food.

Finally, the pink miniature grocery store rose (¿"Light Pink Felicitas Kordana?") that I bought on sale after Mother's day.  It did suffer a bit off a set back after I repotted it.  I think the weather was too hot and roots not established enough.  After removing the flowers, pruning back a bit, and fertilizing with a balanced general houseplant food, it's begun to make a come back.   Lots of new leaves are growing now.  These little rose bushes seem much healthier after they shed their original, plant-factory leaves, and grow new home - outdoor leaves as well as growing thick new roots in their new potting soil.

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I think the new growth is an encouraging sign and shows promise for nice flowers in a month or two.

Day Lilies. 24 Jun 24.

 The day lilies are beginning to bloom.

I don't have a name for this one.  I moved it to Battle Ground, years ago.  It was dug out when the sidewalk went in, and wound up drying out in a pile of dirt.

I potted it up and gave TLC.  Now it's started to bloom.  Very nice flower.

I think this is Stella De Oro, old classic everywhere.  I had it last year in a different container.  Lots of buds!

Also the Betty Len daylily.  It doesn't look much like the web photos and package, maybe once it establishes? Also, the color doesn't show correctly in digital photos.  It's more lavender.  It got a difficult start, but is beginning to show some life.