Rebecca
03-08-2006, 07:12 PM
I believe I mentioned in another thread that I had saved the pollen for the Philadelphia blooms that had opened in water (5 of 7 buds so far), I used it today, and I put it on (of all things) 'Red Lion'. There's one more bud opeing on Philly that is showing a couple of anthers and as soon as that pollen is ripe I will dust the pistils of 'Red Lion' again, just to make sure there's enough present. I used a fine bristled paint brush to apply the pollen today although the pistils did not appear to be fully receptive - another reason I am going to reapply pollen
I ended up removing the buds from 'Elvas' as they were aborting. 'Aphrodite' looks like it may have a bloom open in the next few days. 'Promise' -Mother bulb- buds haven't emerged any further but are still slowly developing. Looks like they will open mostly in the bulb. The baby's bloom stem hasn't made much of any progress even with it upstairs where it is warmer. Three new ones are showing bloom stems. One is in one of the wallpaper paste trays and the others in invdividual pots, none of them are labled, so I will be able to label them this year, finally! Several others are beginning to show growth in with the main bulbs or on their pups. Still nee to get two other wallpaper trays re-potted before it's too late.
'Papillo' has gone dormant but is still waiting to be taken to the basement.
Other things happening in the basement:
The Hibiscus seedlings are in need of a good prunning as they are all getting rather lanky. Both of the golden salmon double from last year's cuttings are still producing an odd bloom or two and the double deep rose cutting has finished for now, it's mother, on the other hand is still producing new buds. It's been blooming for at least three months now. The pink single, 'Seminole', hasn't even tried to bloom this winter and it usually does. It's new growth is very soft and will have to be pruned off when it goes outside for the summer. Since I do have a good sized cutting of it that I am training to standard form, I will be getting rid of it this summer. Although I do have a nice cutting of the double rose one I a, undecided about getting rid of the Mother plant as I have had it for so long, more than 20 years ad I've grown it from a cutting.The Variegated one has done very well this winter, moderate amount of new growth and hardly any leaf loss. Looks tohave several nice cuttings in the making to slip when they go outside.
The Moth Orchids are still trying to bloom.
Nearly all of the Lantan either have been or are putting out some spradic blooms, the pink one being the best of the bunch. They will all have to be pruned back fairly hard when they go outside as all their growth is soft.
Most of the "Rain Lilies" have held their foliage all winter (I have been watering them occasionally). The "Gurnsey Lily" went completely dormant, even all of it's pups, no sign of new growth on it yet.
I had brough a pot of LA hybrid Lily bulblets inside as I wasn't sure how they'd do outsdie in a small pot. Two of them are sprouting and one is pretty good sized.
The Kafir Lily isn't looking too hot, really must be re-potted this spring; all of it's babies are doing fine though as is the big leafed Coleus that has sprouted in the pots. I even moved a few of them up to the tub that has the Clematis seeds (still no sprouts) and the emergency plaanting of Daylily seeds (4 of 5 came up). The Amaryllis seedlings are growing great, some have lost a leaf, but otherwise doing very well. They are going to be so ready for new quarters by the time spring gets here!
All of the daylily seedlings are doing very well. There have been a few lost to damping off" or some other malady. They should have been put closer to the lights so are a tad on the lanky side, but will be fine once they get to go outside and harden off. The tubs will be a challange since they do not have drainage holes, but it should not be a real problem since their first station is under the eves where the rain doesn't get to and the stand will be covered. I plan to plant them out into the seedling bed as soon as they have harden off really well. Two crosses were complete washes, not a single seed sprouted. Still have plenty of other crosses that did sprout! Even the year old seeds from the erronious Kwanso cross kids did very well, 8 sprouted out of 10 seeds.
Wrote my neighbor about using more of his unused garden area this year; no word from him yet though. Sure hope ha has a favorable response for me. Sure would solve the space problem. I may sstart sell off some of the registered plants and older seedlings from the first section this fall. I know I'll be selling some of the Asiatic Lilies that had been planted there to grow on. Most will bloom this spring and I will get them identified by color if nothing else. Will probably have new bulblets to put into the new section, if I get to use it. I have a plan incubating on the back burner about how best to utilize any space Bill allows me to use. I may have to clone myself to get it all done though!
New markings on the sidewalk in front of the house today, these indicate the water supply lines to the meter. Great, another section of the front perennial beds/border.
Guess that covers all the more interesting (?) things for now. Cross your fingers that these crosses take (pollinated two blooms)!
Rebecca
I ended up removing the buds from 'Elvas' as they were aborting. 'Aphrodite' looks like it may have a bloom open in the next few days. 'Promise' -Mother bulb- buds haven't emerged any further but are still slowly developing. Looks like they will open mostly in the bulb. The baby's bloom stem hasn't made much of any progress even with it upstairs where it is warmer. Three new ones are showing bloom stems. One is in one of the wallpaper paste trays and the others in invdividual pots, none of them are labled, so I will be able to label them this year, finally! Several others are beginning to show growth in with the main bulbs or on their pups. Still nee to get two other wallpaper trays re-potted before it's too late.
'Papillo' has gone dormant but is still waiting to be taken to the basement.
Other things happening in the basement:
The Hibiscus seedlings are in need of a good prunning as they are all getting rather lanky. Both of the golden salmon double from last year's cuttings are still producing an odd bloom or two and the double deep rose cutting has finished for now, it's mother, on the other hand is still producing new buds. It's been blooming for at least three months now. The pink single, 'Seminole', hasn't even tried to bloom this winter and it usually does. It's new growth is very soft and will have to be pruned off when it goes outside for the summer. Since I do have a good sized cutting of it that I am training to standard form, I will be getting rid of it this summer. Although I do have a nice cutting of the double rose one I a, undecided about getting rid of the Mother plant as I have had it for so long, more than 20 years ad I've grown it from a cutting.The Variegated one has done very well this winter, moderate amount of new growth and hardly any leaf loss. Looks tohave several nice cuttings in the making to slip when they go outside.
The Moth Orchids are still trying to bloom.
Nearly all of the Lantan either have been or are putting out some spradic blooms, the pink one being the best of the bunch. They will all have to be pruned back fairly hard when they go outside as all their growth is soft.
Most of the "Rain Lilies" have held their foliage all winter (I have been watering them occasionally). The "Gurnsey Lily" went completely dormant, even all of it's pups, no sign of new growth on it yet.
I had brough a pot of LA hybrid Lily bulblets inside as I wasn't sure how they'd do outsdie in a small pot. Two of them are sprouting and one is pretty good sized.
The Kafir Lily isn't looking too hot, really must be re-potted this spring; all of it's babies are doing fine though as is the big leafed Coleus that has sprouted in the pots. I even moved a few of them up to the tub that has the Clematis seeds (still no sprouts) and the emergency plaanting of Daylily seeds (4 of 5 came up). The Amaryllis seedlings are growing great, some have lost a leaf, but otherwise doing very well. They are going to be so ready for new quarters by the time spring gets here!
All of the daylily seedlings are doing very well. There have been a few lost to damping off" or some other malady. They should have been put closer to the lights so are a tad on the lanky side, but will be fine once they get to go outside and harden off. The tubs will be a challange since they do not have drainage holes, but it should not be a real problem since their first station is under the eves where the rain doesn't get to and the stand will be covered. I plan to plant them out into the seedling bed as soon as they have harden off really well. Two crosses were complete washes, not a single seed sprouted. Still have plenty of other crosses that did sprout! Even the year old seeds from the erronious Kwanso cross kids did very well, 8 sprouted out of 10 seeds.
Wrote my neighbor about using more of his unused garden area this year; no word from him yet though. Sure hope ha has a favorable response for me. Sure would solve the space problem. I may sstart sell off some of the registered plants and older seedlings from the first section this fall. I know I'll be selling some of the Asiatic Lilies that had been planted there to grow on. Most will bloom this spring and I will get them identified by color if nothing else. Will probably have new bulblets to put into the new section, if I get to use it. I have a plan incubating on the back burner about how best to utilize any space Bill allows me to use. I may have to clone myself to get it all done though!
New markings on the sidewalk in front of the house today, these indicate the water supply lines to the meter. Great, another section of the front perennial beds/border.
Guess that covers all the more interesting (?) things for now. Cross your fingers that these crosses take (pollinated two blooms)!
Rebecca