Up-Potting Pelargoniums (Geraniums). 19 Apr 24.

 I up- potted two established Pelargoniums (Geraniums) and one new one.  I bought the new one on impulse at the grocery store - an ultra-modern interspecific hybrid called "Big Eeze Pink Batik".  The larger floret size and variegated flowers are interesting.  From what I can find, these are hybrids between zonal and ivy type Pelargoniums.    Apparently, that's a modern trend.

I re-used potting soil from other plants' last year for these.  The texture seems good.  There are a couple more Pelargoniums to clean up, and one more to up-pot.

Now that nights are above 45 F, I'm leaving them outside day and night, but sheltered close to the house at night.  Some have new flower buds now.

Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Dawn Redwood, about seven years later.

 I planted this Dawn Redwood, Metasequoia glyptostroboides, in 2017.  It's starting to leaf out now for spring.

Quite impressive.  Here is the tree when I planted it in 2017.

Considering the root pruning, I'm still amazed it grew.

Freeze Damage To Tasmanian Alpine Eucalyptus (E. subcrenulata ). 18 Apr 24.

 In 2020, I planted a Tasmanian Alpine Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus subcrenulata.    It was marked as cold hardy to this area.   Last winter had some major cold snaps.  If I remember correctly, as low as 19 F.

I haven't taken much time to examine the tree, since the freeze.   It's quite tall now, no way can I look at the top growth.

Low branches definitely had a lot of freeze.  Many are dead.

For comparison, here is new growth in 2021. 

I think the top is OK.  It seems to be maturing from juvenile oval leaves, to mature lance shaped leaves.

It would be fun if the mature growth bloomed this year. As always, time will tell.

Mini Rose Update. A Bud And Some Aphids. 15 Apr 25.

 The first of the yellow mini rose, that I think is SunMaid, has a nice bud.

I check every day for aphids.

It helps to hold the plant on its side, so the aphids don't just fall onto to soil and climb back up.

Last year with the peppers, the only satisfactory solution was to spritz off the aphids, so that's what I'm doing now.  As the season progresses, I think they will go away.

Another observation - some of the plants have new shoots coming from underground.  

So I think they'll become more bushy as the plants mature.

This is a fun project.

Planting The First Dahlia and Four O'Clock Seedlings. 15 Apr 24.

  The seedling cart is pretty full, so I wanted to test to see if I can plant a few seedlings in the garden.  Nights continue to be in the 40s F.  I forgot to measure the soil temp. 

I planted two dwarf dahlia seedlings is a container that has rose cuttings and some onions for seed production.

I planted two four o'clock seedlings in the outside (outside the veggie garden deer fence) border.

My plan is to watch them for a week, then maybe plant more.  If the soil temp is 50 or above, I might sooner.

They have slug bait and bird / deer / rabbit fencing for the usual reasons.