Peach Tree Experiment

My newest experiement. I enjoyed eating these peaches, now lets see if i can get them to grow. Took these photos the day I planted them one week ago. So far, a week later nothing is peeking from the soil yet. I'll keep my hopes high! And I'll keep you posted!!! STAY TUNED!

Balloon Flower

I would love to tell you about this flower that I discovered last year. It is called a Balloon Flower or Platycodon. My mom picked it out because it was unusual and I know you will agree! It is a fairly hardy perennial.  The flower starts out as a green bud:

 It then slowly starts expanding to a larger "balloon" shape. Changing it's color the entire time. In the case of this particular balloon flower, green, very light shades of violet and then a robust purple! The photo below shows the many stages of the balloon:

 Here is a close up of the immature balloon:

It's amazing how quickly the change takes place. From green bud to full bloom (which you will see in a moment) in about 4-5 days. The plant requires a lot of watering at this stage. I've noticed that when it is blooming, it soaks up water like crazy.

Here we see how beautiful the purple balloon flower compliments the bright colors of the portulacas:

FULL BLOOM!

Once this flower unfurls it's lovely petals it is very delicate and doesn't last very long. It especially does not like to get wet or have the heat of the hot sun. The sun doesn't bother the actual green foliage, only the bloom. I've had it in full sun the entire time, and I do believe that if I moved it to a bit of shade the blooms would last longer. 

A beautiful flower I'll be happy to enjoy year after year! 

Gardening from the heart

     The comfort that I find in familiar plants and even weeds is one of the greatest feelings in the world. I've grown up around plants, gardens, flowers and weeds. I am by no means an expert. But I am an enthusiast in every sense of the word! Born and raised in the Northeast United States means that the moment that a seed can sprout I make it happen. The minute I think the last frost has passed dirt starts flying! How significant in my psyche it is to hook up the gardening hose. From that point forward the season of gardening is ON and watch out plants here I come!

     Some of my earliest memories revolve around gardening with my Granny Em and my mom. Most of this revolved around houseplants. Spider plants, snake plants, geraniums (normally outdoor, but they winter in the house fairly well), African violets. If it could grow roots watch out! Mom would grow specific plants which were set aside so i could be handed a scissor and hack away at them. Unusual yes. Wonderful DOUBLE YES! It kept me from hacking away at any of the more important plants.  We would have little containers near the sink with single leaves, bound in the water by root tendrils waiting to be planted in dirt. As soon as the weather outside allowed it, everything would be moved out to the porch where plants,  that were semi alive in the house, could flourish!

     Here I am. Many years later touching plants whose great ancestors built my childhood memories. And every season I learn something new. Something more exciting. It is in this gardening world that I continue building on my knowledge and exploring new things. It is these plants that I want to share with you and hope that I can impart something, even if it is very small that you can grow with.