possible papaya

and a couple other things…

I started this entry late Saturday night and then left it hanging on the screen pending some plant identification. And then well, busy week started after busy weekend. So my apologies.

I did get some gardening in, and bought some new plants. So many of my seeds have come up, its getting hard to wait to see what they are! I like to plant several different things just in case something dies off I still have another plant to catch my interest.

One thing I brought home from work was this ‘rocket ship‘ planter I 3-D printed.
A couple of plants have come up in it after I brought it home last month which are possibly a couple of papaya seedlings, and possibly a couple of Kiwi seedlings. And possibly something else I’ve totally forgotten about.

Silent running or the triffids, you decide

I have the blossom app on my phone but I think they’re still too young to clearly identify. I felt that they were crowded in the rocket, which is made from a 2Litre bottle and only 4 inches in diameter, so I carefully moved the two types of seeds into separate containers.

One is looking like it has no transplant shock in a shady part of my greenhouse. I need to keep the warmth and moisture going for it regardless of which one It is. 🙂 Or it could be a hydrangea! I convinced myself that I will resolve my 3d printing issues and make up plant labels for all my pots but you and I both know that’s gonna take a while.

I had occasion to visit a DIY store nearby and bought a few plants while there. I got another Venus Fly Trap since the one I put in the greenhouse last winter didn’t come back like it should have. Entirely my fault, I was advised to cut the flowering bits off when they appeared but the idea of propagating it was too exciting so I kept them and didn’t winter it until those could be cut and dried. Well they didn’t grow either so I’m once again humbled in my amateur efforts.

So back to the projects at hand:
While at the DIY store, I bought a fence planter and moved MOST of my alpines into it, in hopes of creating a curtain effect. I say most because alpines are so hardy that they seem to grow anywhere and easily spreads to pots with other things growing in them. Not to mention its not bothered by being mostly submerged in my hydroponics.

While the VFT didn’t survive the winter, both of my pitcher plants did, and this crimson beauty got too big for the ‘fogponics’ tank I had it in so I’ve planted it in a discarded skillet so it can have lots of room and keep its toes wet. I’m just a bit hesitant to trim the dried trumpets off it just yet but will have to eventually to make room for more already on the way.

Here’s an updated photo of the Columbine growing in my garden. I suspect there will be more as the season progresses…

I dropped our car off at the dealership today and walked home. On the way back I saw several interesting plants that I have whizzed past in a blur before.

One was this very interesting: Berberis Fortune, or Leatherleaf mahonia. I have to say I think the Latin name is better in this case! It is a variety of barberry, I’m just surprised that this is the first time I’ve seen one with actual berries!

While we’re talking about B’s, I ought to mention my other purchase: a blueberry shrub! I was hesitant about it but couldn’t walk away. It already had flowers and looked very cramped in its pot. I’ve put it in a bigger pot and have my fingers crossed. I think it is a dwarf variety but should still produce berries come July.

Inside the house I replaced one of JJ’s prayer plants with a variety that has oblong leaves (a Fishbone Prayer Plant.) It should do well in that location since the one I am replacing is massive.

Not that much smaller than the previous one.

The neighbours cat Smokey was taking all this activity in stride…

I told you I had a lot of catching up to do! In the front garden we’ve added a trio of lavender plants.

and closer to home on my walk I passed some massive Horse Chestnut trees in full bloom…

And this one, I didn’t recognize. Blossom app says its a Cherry Laurel. I have heard they’re used in hedges and privacy fences, but I didn’t know they had such beautiful blooms. I think I even saw a bonsai of one once. Hmmmn…