Hello friends!

This time of year we are all a twitter about the weather. Temps go up and temps fall down making us a wee bit crazy. No matter, Spring is coming and maybe even a bit early this year. We’ve been away for a few days and were greeted with so much beauty.

• The geranium cuttings that have been growing slowly but surely this winter, bloomed!
• The most unusual amaryllis I have ever grown, Nymph Double Bloom, was showing off!
• So many pretty Snowdrops.
• Tete de Tete daffodils are showing color.
• Other daffodills are ready to go – just a few more warm days.

POTTING SHED PUTTERINGS

WINTER SOWING UPDATE…

Winter sowing containers have life! Those showing some green are:

• Salvia Violet Queen
• Yarrow
• Sweet Alyssum
• Bachelor Buttons
• Strawflowers
• Phacelia
• Scabiosa

LISIANTHUS…

Although still tiny, I potted up the Lisianthus that had been sown via broadcast in small containers. Now they are in larger, self watering trays — making them much easier to take care of. The plants are tiny but the roots are quite impressive!

Heirloom Roses

Thanks to Heirloom Roses for this helpful image and for sending such a lovely catalog for me to drool over!

ROSE CHAT PODCAST

THE RESEARCH JOUREY OF SUSTAINABLE ROSES

Last week I chatted with Dr. David Byrne from Texas A & M. He and his team are working to find the keys to help us eliminate black spot and RRD. I learned a lot and loved knowing the project is in such good hands. I think you will too. You can listen here…

ROSE PRUNING: MAKING ORDER OUT OF CHAOS – Rose Chat Podcast

ROSE PRUNING: MAKING ORDER OUT OF CHAOS   We hear all the time that one of the scariest things for rosarians to do is prune a rose. I will also say that there is a lot of misleading information floating around about pruning roses. So today Gaye Hammond is here to dispel the myths and get us on the right track. Even a 30+ years rose-growing veteran learned a thing or two during this interview! So, don't miss it!   ABOUT GAYE HAMMOND: Gaye is a life member and patron of the American Rose Society and serves on the Marketing Committee of the national organization. Gaye is also the study liaison between the Houston Rose Society and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in connection with Earth – Kind® Rose Research – the largest environmental rose research study done in the U.S.   Gaye is an entertaining speaker and an avid writer of more than 300 articles that have been published in local, state, national and international magazines and newspapers. She has co-authored a peer-reviewed journal article on Earth-Kind Roses published in 2009 in Floriculture & Ornamental Biotechnology, a chapter in The Sustainable Rose Garden, and authored a chapter in the book, Gulf Coast Gardening. Her photography has appeared on the cover of HortScience (December 2010) and she was awarded the cover story for the September 2011 issue of Parks & Recreation Magazine. ROSE CHAT TEAM:   Executive Producer & On-Air Personality: Chris VanCleave – www.RedneckRosarian.com Creator of the Rose Chat Podcast. Mr. VanCleave is a nationally known rosarian, television personality, speaker and advocate for the rose.   Content Creator & On-Air Personality: Teresa Byington – www.TheGardenDiary.com Co-Host Teresa Byington promotes roses as an integral part of the landscape, as a Consulting Rosarian, Master Gardener, writer, and speaker.   SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to Rose Chat Podcast Updates: http://bit.ly/subscribeROSE

1. ROSE PRUNING: MAKING ORDER OUT OF CHAOS 46:41
2. GARDEN DESIGN TIPS AND TRICKS 01:00:25
3. WELCOME TO GREAT BIG ROSES 23:55
4. THE RESEARCH JOURNEY OF SUSTAINABLE ROSES 43:08
5. The Many Faces of RRD: A Virus of Disguises 46:08

BC MASTER GARDENERS

Thank you for your gracious welcome. It was wonderful to be with you! All the best with your spring projects!

SHE HAS DONE IT AGAIN!

Christie Purifoy has done it again; created another beautiful garden book for us. No one speaks the language of a garden and home quite like Christie. In A HOME IN BLOOM Christie takes us on a jouney through the seasons leading us through creative ways to fill our homes with beauty from the garden. Helping us to blur the lines between inside and out. If you’ve read her previous books, you know that you can simply sink into the words she writes. And be inspired by the images she uses. Quote from A HOME IN BLOOM… Brought together, house and garden tell a better story than either one alone. Take a look at the book on Amazon here. Follow her on Instagram here.

NOT SPRING YET

As I look at the long range forecast, it appears much cooler temps are coming. I’m sure more garden surprises both good and bad are coming too. We will not despair, spring will come and the bloom thyme will be glorious.

Thanks for stopping by, until next time … happy gardening or happy garden planning.