I'm on my way outside. It's sunny and warm, and we're opening up the greenhouses to see what croaked. The brugs still look good, but the plumerias... not so good. Our trees are budding out, and I see signs of life in the flower beds. Haven't mentioned to DH that I'm going to rip out the wax myrtles out front. They never looked good from the start. Ready for something a little less bushy...maybe 3 conical metal pots against the courtyard wall. I wanted to take a road trip to Marshall's for clay pots. Walked up to H.E.B. yesterday and they had some familiar looking big pots that were a pretty good price. Yep, they were from Marshall's. Think of all the money and gas I've saved DH by "shopping locally."

You saved a bundle on gas, but oh the fun of a road trip. I love road trips. I really love them in the cold dreary months when I tend to get cabin fever.

Charlene

Morning Charlene! The first time I went to Marshall's, I was with a friend. We were at the Master Gardener conf. in Tyler. We took a side trip to Marshall's and literally filled the truck with pots. Got back to the motel and as my friend stepped out of truck, she twisted her knee. I had to carry all the pots upstairs so we could hurry to the MG welcoming party. The day before we left Tyler, we went to Chamblee's just to "look" at roses. We both bought a few David Austin ones, and as we were checking out I remarked that we should have an armed guard walk us to the truck after what they cost. The clerk asked if we had missed the "$2. Corral." The guy that had helped us then offered to show us the corral. Long story short, he decided to take us to see the ones they hadn't put out yet. We filled the back end of the truck with roses. When we got back to the motel...and after I hauled all those roses upstairs, it dawned on us that we had two truck loads of stuff...but only one truck. We packed the truck bed with pots and our suitcases. We filled the inside of the truck with roses piled on each other and down the center console. I said I was sure this must be what Heaven smelled like! We drove all the way to Austin from Tyler like that. I still have most of those pots, not one of the roses....

I've been out in the garden! Whoop! It's finally warmed up enough to be outside without freezing your backside off! We've been planting potatoes, onions, and carrots. DH's been converting more of the yard to garden plot space, and I've been doing some weeding in the flower beds as well.

What a great way to spend my vacation!

We've been outside too. So nice, ..temp is 71 now.
Are you planting seeds? I'm asking because I'd like to plant a small garden with my grandson. I have the ground ready, but have an armadillo digging in the soil at night. I thought maybe there were grubs, but there's no sign of them when I dig. I guess I'll have to make some kind of hoop to keep critters out. I started some tomatoes inside, but I don't think carrots would work as transplants. This will be our first garden, and I sure don't want to mess up! Have some hanging baskets with lettuces. Can you suggest some other veggies that are "fail safe?"

Right now, I've planted potatoes and onions. I've also put some carrot seeds in the ground. Those things are tiny and a pain to plant! LOL I'll soon be planting peas. Beans are generally fail-proof as is okra. Last year, I had lots of success with bell peppers and jalapenos.

Forgot about beans! I did buy radishes, dill (for the cats) and some tomatillos seeds. So many seeds... I'll try to find some onions tomorrow...and a bell pepper plant. Don't think I have room for potatoes, but they would sure be fun to dig up! Thanks for the suggestions. Just being outside today made me want to start setting all the pots out that are in the ghs. 'But I'm going to resist a little longer.

Radishes are great because they come up quickly and it doesn't take long for them to mature!

Well, radishes it is! We have a whole pkg. I may plant them in a hanging basket until I catch whose diggin' in my yard.
I tried to catch the armadillo last night. I placed the trap and then "v'd" a couple of boards down to the trap.....Nope, no armadillo...but a raccoon! He's going to the farm this morning to meet his friends.

It's too late to start tomato seeds. By the time the seedlings are ready to place in the ground, temperatures may be high enough to threaten the development of blooms and pollination. Buy tomato plants from the nursery, this year. Next year, start the seed in January. If you don't have room for a large tomato plant, try the patio varieties that do very well in pots.

I gardened with my students for several years before our community garden was taken from us. I found that children love anything they can pop in their mouths right there in the garden — cherry tomatoes, beans (purple or yellow are easier to find), peas, broccoli, ... A faucet nearby is handy for rinsing the veggies before the kids pop them in their mouths.

hi Veronica! What I bought was tomatillos seeds. Not sure if it's too late to start those. ?

We already have two good sized patio tomato plants. They're the garden club cultivar for the spring garden and flower show. We are to take them home and baby them, enter the fruit in the show, and see which win the competition. And I had already started some tomato seeds indoors on a heat mat, just so he could see the progress. We'll also buy a few varieties from the Master Gardeners' booth at Zilker Garden Festival at the end of the month. That's the easy way for growing tomatoes! Healthy plants, already blooming!

'Opened the gh where the bulk of the brugs are and they look good. Have a few pods hanging on, but they were products of the moths, not me. Have a few plumeria pods too. I was tempted to leave it open last night, but there are a few hibiscus in there... in ground. They don't like anything lower than 45. Not going to experiment now....after they made it thru this weird winter.

I've been in my greenhouse at night quite often and haven't seen any moths since late November. Yet I have a large number of new seedpods. I guess the moths are playing hide and seek with me.

I have 3 potted tropical hibiscus who spend the winter as leafless little guys, but they recover quickly in spring. The temperature drops below 45ºF every time I switch propane tanks without apparent harm to them.

I have over 20 and none have dropped their leaves...so I'm not tempting fate. A lot of my hibiscus are in pots and they hate to be wet and cold. I barely water them during the winter. We're about to get rain tomorrow or Monday.
I was out yesterday, trimming and tossing. Saw lots of new growth under 'dead' salvias, so I'm feeeling a little better about the front yard. Didn't get around to building the berm over the winter....maybe next year!

I will need to trim my hibiscus soon if not now. They are leafing out again. Are the cuttings easy to root even as leafless cuttings?

Mine always have leaves on them. I take off all but the 4 top ones on a 4" cutting. If the upper leaves are big, I cut half of each leaf off. Stick 'em in soil and put them in the shade.

Sorry...had drop-in company show up while I was trying to write. If there's a bud on the stem, I clip it off. 'Want all energy to go to the roots. I use a hanging basket pot....and put lots of cuttings of the same hib in each. I have a fairly good success rate. My best ones are the GVHs that I take to the RUs and give to neighbors.