Lilies

I love lilies.   My favorite is probably the star gazer; but, I haven't met a lily I didn't like.   Recently, the local grocery store near my house has started carrying other varieties of lilies other than the Easter Lily (white), and the Star Gazer (hot pink with white).  It has been fun to see the other varieties come in.  

My friend told me one year after I had bought a lily in a pot at Easter, that once the lily blossoms and had died that I had to pull the bulb out of the dirt and keep it warm and dry and replant next year.   I asked her if a zip lock would work and she said yes.   The following year I didn't remember where I put the bulb for safe keeping.   I'm sure somewhere in my garage a lily bulb is sitting in a zip lock, even now four years later, as I still don't remember where I put it.  

When I couldn't find the bulb the year after sequestering away the dry and warm bulb, I gave up looking and went and bought another lily.  I bought a different variety this time.  This time at the end of the blossoms life I just snipped the stalk as close to the dirt as possible and kept it in the pot.   Over the course of the year I continued to water it.  It sat where I had originally placed the pot on the back patio.   Summer passed.  Fall came and went.  Winter flurried on by, and spring arrived.   

The little bulb shot up a little stalk and I had lilies.  (Smaller flowers than the year before as it was only half the height of the one I had clipped.)   I was sooooo excited that it came back to life and grew again, that I bought another...a stargazer this time.

I planted the new arrival kiddy-corner to the other (since the little one was in a huge pot).  I clipped the new arrival down to the soil after it was done sharing its beauty with the world.   The little one I just clipped the florets off.   I'm leaving them in the pot again this year...so I won't forget where I put them....and I'm excited to see if they come back again next year.

I'm very new to growing lilies.  So all of this is trial and error....the same way I apparently learn about all gardening...(grin and shrug).   Time will tell if this method will be acceptable to the bulb.   

P.S.  nothing in my garage has bloomed....so maybe one day I'll find the Easter Lily bulb I sequestered away and it can join the others.  

2nd Lily purchased, year 1.

Close up of year 1 for this lily.

Year 2 for the lily at the top.   Stargazer, lily #3, in the foreground.

Close up of Lily #2, year 2. :)

Close up of Stargazer, lily 3, year 1 in the pot

Roses - Entry 4 - Nifty bug deterrent

Somewhere in my quest to learn about gardening with own root roses, I had a bug problem.  I had gravitated one of my pots outdoors to see if it would do better outside (in a pot) than inside (in a pot). 

Also, as another control type...that happened rather by accident...my boyfriend, at the time, had front row seats to my little gardening endeavor and he saw the size of the own roots when they were first shipped and felt that there was no way they would bloom for me that season, and so he went out to the local market and bought me a $5, grafted rose that was sure to bloom that season so that I would have roses.   We affectionately called it the mystery rose since no one knew what it was at the store other than 'a rose bush'.  (Picture below).    I went out and bought another 15x15x30 pot and stuck it out on my patio to live or not live. ;)  

Back to my own root rose living on the patio.   For awhile it did seem to thrive better than the indoor ones.   Then lo and behold one day some time later it seemed to be shriveling up and all but kicking the bucket.   I was distressed.   So I went in for closer inspection.   Then I screamed, as my discovery yielded the realization that ants had traversed up three stories to come and eat my own-root rose!!!!   It didn't take long to see they had told the whole colony or perhaps all the neighboring colonies too since there was a steady stream, or moving line, up the side of the building, around my rose and all over the dirt.  

Out of curiosity, or horror, I went to inspect the mystery rose.   Not one ant. 

I dashed inside, and made the call to my favorite rose company in Oregon.    They had never heard of such a thing as my problem.....yes, leave it to me to have unique problems ;).... but they had a fabulous recommendation for me to try.  

Diatomaceous earth, the powder.  

Huh, what, and can you repeat that was my response.  Diatomaceous earth is the fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of hard shelled algae.    It is like a pumice powder that makes the exoskeletons of insects itch, or dehydrate at a rapid pace, and they leave like they are being chased by the hounds of h-e-_-_.   You can buy it in food grade quality so that if you have pets who will inevitably taste test it, they will not be harmed.  As I understand it there is a type of this stuff that can be used by vets to de-worm your furry family friend.  (Consult a vet before taking matters into your own hands).  There are also a variety of other uses for it.

What I can tell you is that this stuff works!!!!  It will not hurt your flowers!!!  

I had to go on a search for it...and trust me...most clerks in stores will not know, nor have they heard of this stuff.   I heard plenty of, "DIE-AH-what???   Ummmm....."    So my recommendation is to search for a garden nursery nearby and go in there and ask.   My local nursery had it in a small bag for $12 or a 3lb box for $20.    Let's just say, I hate ants, and so I went with the big box...and used it liberally....think confetti, at new year's, in time square.  

My rose recovered.   It took about a month.   I've reapplied since then.   I also used it as my first and last layer when building my elevated garden.

Happy Gardening!

Mystery rose -- uneaten by ants

Roses - Entry 3 - Inside vs Outside...and option number 3

One thing you may hear, see, or encounter when you start your own-root roses....'they have to be planted outside in the ground'.....

Well...again, I'm no expert but I'm here to say you can do it...you just need a few more tips.

Inside

1. Again, dirt, as mentioned in my previous post is crucial!
2. Make sure that it has some time either near an open window, or one day outside (in the shade).
3. It will need a substantial pot.  It doesn't need to be a pot that is the size of a couch or anything, but it does need at least 15"x15"x30ish" within 3-6 months, you can start smaller at first to get it established.  (Picture below -- without the cedar bark).
4. Indirect sunlight is also a must, good ambient light, but not direct. 
5. Pay attention to the watering...the soil cannot be too saturated
6. Preferably water in the morning so that the rose has all day to drink, not overnight as the rose consumes water differently inside vs out and inside they really don't like wet feet so-to-speak.

Outside

1. You can follow the instructions that come with the roses.
2. Go out and pay attention to sunlight and shade for where you plan on planting it.  See the elevated garden step for the explanation.
3. Inspect your ground soil first....if it isn't the right thing, adjust accordingly.
4. OR if you live in Texas where the soil is basically clay....what I've done is an elevated garden.   Well...we are more in process to put that in since my household is on a budget and dumping a thousand on elevated gardens is not as feasible as I would like...not to mention I'd need a truck to rent a tiller of mass power to churn up the brick we have underneath the grass.....we've gone for option number 3.... :)

Option Number 3 - an elevated garden

1. Take note of the sunlight and shade you have in your backyard.   The roses aren't as much bothered by the heat as direct scorching sun.   (With proper watering of course.)
2. You can purchase long deep, wooden trench like pots...but for my budget we went to home depot and bought the really big plastic tubs.   One really big plastic tub was about $15.   The pots I bought for the indoor ones (15x15x30) were more pricey than this one big tub.  (shown below)
3. Next take a drill, flat spade like bit (I don't remember the name of this bit, but it exists), and drill out some drain holes for the tub.  
4. Layer the soil as described in my previous entry about dirt.  I bought 14 bags of Scotts Premium Organic Top Soil for two of the big plastic tubs.
5. Max number of own root roses, when they are young and just getting established is 6.
6. Begin preparing the bigger garden so that when the roses are happy and growing, and enjoying life you can give the roots more room than in this little tub.
7. Don't fertilize until 3 or 6 months has elapsed.
8. Don't use the typical rose fertilizer from the stores.  Go looking for Alaskan Fish Oil...it is a liquid....and it does smell....but the roses will be in 7th heaven.   (This is also good for other plants, but personally I can't stand the smell....I make the sacrifice for own root roses though).
9. I used the lids from the plastic tubs as sun shades.  (I will describe this in a later blog.)
10. Water depending on your climate zone.   The goal is not to drown the roses, but you do need to keep them hydrated.   For Texas, in summer this means either once or twice a day, a good soak.    We've been having hundred plus temperatures with intense humidity...and the soil has been drying out like it is the Sahara.   
11. Be prepared that in intense heat the roses will bloom less.  
12. If the leaves are spotting like black chicken pox...see if you can move it into a more shaded place or adjust your sun shade.
13. If they spots still don't go away, well, I think there's a deeper issue.   Call the Heirloom people...as I haven't had this problem I cannot speak to it. :) 

Happy Gardening!

Indoor beginner pots...you will need to plan on transplanting
once they've established themselves a little.

Going up one size....15x15x30ish...you can't see the depth in this shot,
but you can get a feel for what I mean

Tub shot - elevated garden... this was the first night
only 5 of my 6 were ready to send, the 6th came about a month later
I was sooooo excited.

The 6th has arrived.   I added more peat moss over the top of the bark
it is hot in Texas and I want to ensure the roots don't fry

Roses - Entry 2 - Dirt

Sigh.   Who knew that I'd actually ever be writing about dirt...or soil?  I mean seriously...I didn't see it coming!  But it's important.   The wrong dirt can KILL your roses.   Hence my intimate knowledge of the customer service replacement for roses from the Heirloom Roses company.

Ok...I called them and asked BEFORE I did anything...and they said go buy the cheapest dirt possible and that you usually have to find a clerk and make them show you where the cheap, no fertilizer dirt is.  It should cost about 97 cents. 

I went and found said dirt.  I didn't buy enough so in came my second lesson.  But I'm getting ahead of myself.

The cheapest dirt I found was indeed 98 cents.  It was top soil and nothing else... I planted my new roses in it, and watered it to assist in overcoming transplant shock.  I was confused because it looked like clay when the water saturated it. 

The roses did good for about three weeks.   And it turns out I was right.  Top soil with nothing in it is like clay...and eventually the clay has no oxygen in it and the water won't even seep in...and the rose suffocates.    So...avoid straight top soil. 

Lesson number 2....remember how I said I didn't buy enough....well I did have a pot's worth of miracle grow and I planted one of the seedlings in that.   Wow...I thought hooray at least one of my plants will live.   It did for about three months...and then it died too...I had no clue.   I called Heirloom for my weekly panic-check in.   I hadn't mentioned until this call that it was in miracle grow.  Well...the basic explanation is that fertilizer and young own root roses don't mix....the roses basically binge on the fertilizer in an uncontrolled fashion and then have no way to cope after a huge consumption so they end up overdosing. 

The lady sent me new roses, even for the last one which was over 3 months. 

And, I went out looking for not quite top soil, but the next step up....well, round two wasn't successful either. I'll save you the agony.  Despite the pure "organic" something or other $15/bag soil, this round did last eight months.

Third time is a charm though.  I have the perfect soil now...the roses started blooming within the first month so here's what you need for own root roses:

1. Scott's Premium Organic Top Soil (picture below)
•  it is more than 98 cents per bag,  but it is W-O-R-T-H it!!!!!  Trust me...don't skimp...dirt/soil as it turns out is CRUCIAL to healthy roses.
2. Peat Moss
3. Cedar Chip Bark

Then proceed to layer the premium organic top soil and peat moss until you have a sufficient amount for the area you are planting....once you have that, plant the roses in at least two feet down, and proceed layering.  When you have about four inches left, put the cedar bark down to discourage bugs and to give it added protection from direct sunlight heat.  

Hooray!!!  They will grow. :)  :) :) :) Happy Gardening!

Zone Maps

Zone Maps confuse me.   Plus it isn't like I carry one in my back pocket...so I never have one when shopping for plants...perhaps it's poor planning on my part, but hey, you have to have some spontaneity in life right? 

I figure I'll plant what appeals to me, and it will grow, or not. 

Bottom line if you want to understand zone maps, and plant accordingly, you'll have to approach someone else for explanations.

Happy Gardening!

Roses - Entry 1 - Own Root vs others

Ok....I'm not the expert....but I do have preferences.    I love roses.  I love them.   My Mom had a wonderful tradition that has sealed my love of them as now they remind me of my Mom as well as being beautiful and fragrant. She would buy me a rose bush for my birthday and in this way we built our rose garden together.   It was one of the harder things about moving out of the house for me....knowing I was leaving behind that garden and the memories.   Sometimes my Mom would pick a specific color, or fragrance, or name for the fun of it.

When the movie Bed of Roses came out and in the movie they discussed favorites and the Sterling Silver was named as one of the characters favorites because it was thornless...and the other character said that a rose without thorns is too much perfection...the next day she received bouquets of them with the note that read, "thank you for a day filled with too much perfection"...my heart sighed and I wanted one.   That year my Mom gave me my own little slice of too much perfection to remember that those days do happen and for the little romantic idealist she had for a daughter.

For my 21st, she gave me a Don Juan as in her words, "you need a good man in your life." :) It was said with humor, love and affection.   It was a deep red climber.   He was a good man.  

So it has been years since I had my own rose garden....to play in and I miss it.   So I decided to research rose types...as I was living in Oregon at the time it seemed apropos.   Roses grow pretty much year round in Oregon and I discovered Oregon is rather renowned for their roses.  I found Heirloom Roses and knew this was the place I would order from when I got a chance.

Several years later I am now in a more permanent place in life instead of just apartment hoping, on the go, changing addresses every year or six months.  And, I pulled out google and began dreaming for real with Heirloom Roses from Oregon...despite the fact that I live in Texas now.

Own root roses have several differences and I'll leave it to the experts to explain it.   If you want the details here is the what and why of Own Root.  http://www.heirloomroses.com/care/own-root-roses/   For me it was that you have a disease free, pure rose not something that starts out one thing and because of a grafting ends up being something else, a rose that is hardy and healthy. 

This company also has a guarantee that I KNOW they back up if the seedling dies within 3 months of you having it.   This kind of guarantee makes them one of a kind.  Plus this company really truly has friendly people willing to help you.    They also won't send you a seedling until it is ready to go out in the world and live on. :) 

I highly recommend own root roses.  They are different than other ones and so require different treatment to have them grow.    Thus the series of blogs.   I also highly prefer Heirloom roses from Oregon.  http://www.hierloomroses.com/  

But onward and forward as I have several crucial lessons I learned since I received my first seedling.  And, happy gardening to you all...

Example taken from the Heirloom roses site.  
Pic on far left --- shows a typical graft rose vs the own root. 
Middle---the roots exposed....left a store bought graft one with less fibrous roots, the own root on right with lots of fiber roots.  The more fibrous roots the higher chance of rose survival upon transplant.
Right ---- an heirloom rose that you will receive if you buy one. :)

Plugs and Pleas

I'm about to dive into a series of blogs on roses and I wanted to clarify one simple point.   I will be mentioning one particular company for own root roses....and I think it's worth mentioning....that I am NOT being paid to be their spokes-person.  I wish I were.   You know how some people become Avon reps or Candle Company reps or Tupperware reps because they spend so much money on the product that they may as well start selling it from their living room  and get a discount?  This is me for this one company.

I can only dream that some day this particular company will read my posts and say 'well thanks for telling people about us, here's a discount or free roses...' so if you do read my posts and go to this place and order something perhaps tell them about how you heard about them...and my dream can come true. :)   No, sadly...or happily, I'm not a case for Miracle Network one last wishes....so you the people have the power.  

:)   And yes, I actually have their store number in my cell phone as a contact. :)   I also used to call them weekly/monthly when I first started growing things and I would say 'is this normal?'  and 'now what do I do?'....it was like I was a new mother and somehow forgot how easy my Mom made it look but when the child is crying in my hands I space on what to do....

Also, I'm sure there are other companies that sell similar things but I stick with this one for good service, and because I've seen their set up despite not living there, and because it's what I know.   When you are trying to learn from your mistakes it's easier if you don't have a zillion variables in the mix.   Scientists have the control method for testing hypothesis...this is my version of the control method.   All things being equal...what actions really impact the outcome, etc.

And, with that, happy gardening!