My paperwhite narcussus are blooming a month earlier than last year. Yup. In November. Yup, last year they bloomed in December. I planted the bulbs the previous winter. I hope they persist and multiply, because I rather like no maintenance flowers that bloom at weird times. It amuses me, and that is something to be thankful for.
I probably should have broken down the jack-o-lanterns before putting them in the compost pile, because now the compost pile has personality. Yikes.
According to Native American seed, fall is the time for sowing wild flowers. I’ve done this for the last three years, and I never remember where I’ve sewn what in the meadow. Neat little plant markers don’t work so well when you have to mow it all down (after it has gone to seed, of course). So this year I took a picture of the meadow and marked up the photo on my phone. I took a picture of the seed packs too, as a key. We’ll see if this helps identify what does well! It might take a couple years. I had some plants come up two years after I spread the seed (I’m looking at you, standing cypress.) American basket flowers are my favorite, so they get an extra dose of chance.
Since my herbs are all in pots along the fence, I thought I could try a tent-like green house made of two clear shower curtain liners. The liners are inexpensive and come with handy holes at the top! I thought this might be easier than dealing with a plant blanket. I had a set of shower curtain hangers (because I am using a pretty snowy tree scene shower curtain as my Zoom backdrop which came with rings), and those hooked into my wire fence easily. I hung one curtain on each side and weighted the bottom with rocks and brick. I’m hoping this will keep my basil alive for a little longer through the cold snaps. The oregano and peas (or should I say pea) did fine without much protection last winter, but the basil turned black at the first breath of cold.
P.S. the first freeze froze all the plants, even with the cover. Back to the drawing board!
What? I grew a vegetable? Hurray! Now, I planted several mounds, and only one took and produced, but one is better than none! Like my “ever-bearing” strawberries that produced one edible strawberry all summer. Bleh. I’m glad I have other talents. I’ll keep learning about gardening, and keep trying, though. Maybe I’ll get enough peas that we can each have one, rather than cut a single snap pea into portions. It is good to have goals.
Critters and Craft 