Signs of Progress

Many of yall may already know that I have been in zone 8b for only a year and a month. My gardening experience is just 4 years and most of that in zone 10b.

Anyway, I put in many gardens around the house, but one I tried to keep for Fla Natives. Due to my impatience I put in some flowering annuals and some vines on the fence to bring some color into this drab sandy pineland.

I bought some native plants, received some at plant swaps and put them all in and waited for growth and blooms etc.

It's wonderful how the angle of the camera can convince you that things are going great! And for first year, they certainly were for this bed.

Many of the blooms have died back, and I noticed this past week, I have seedlings.

I've been collecting seeds from all the plants out in that field and have been saving them. But I also left many to self sow because I want that field to be wilder with "wilder flowers" this next season.

I still have the salvia blooming and that is about it. In the beginning when there was no color at all, we put in some Mexican Petunias, the tall ones for that ole instant gratification. By now, the deer have pruned them all back to less than half height. Good news, the deer haven't bothered any of the rest of the plants.

But first look at this. Elliot's Aster seedlings.

Then there is Goldenrod. Both the single tall dead stalks, seedlings going rampant at the base.

And lastly, Helianthus seedlings.

Can you picture the wild scene this small field will present when in full bloom this next season? It is going to be crazy wonderful and I'm going to be thrilled by it all.

There's lots more plants out there, cassia alata, ironweed, Fla Salvias, some butterfly bush, scorpian tails, coneflower, and some others I can't remember right now.

Mollymc - what a delightful thread! For those of us months away from spring's march of progress, I thank you for this reminder that our turn will come. Fantastic. Look forward to seeing next year's pix's.

Very nice pictures. I find that pictures like that, seedlings, seeds, buds, branching patterns, are very often are missing from the PlantFiles. We all tend to share more often the big success of flowers. Thank you for sharing.

Laurie,

I don't know if you know it or not, but we over on this side of the pond have been experiencing some serious "False Spring" weather. The past several weeks have been quite warm, even up into Canada. Now things are starting to get colder, more snow, frost etc.

Last night my greenhouse was down to 38 and tonight the outside temps are threatening 32. It's 43 outside now and the greenhouse is 61 from solar heat alone.

I don't have a clue as to how that will affect all those seedlings. I hope they are strong enough to withstand the cold. I also hope that some of the foliage of the plants I have put in will help provide a windbreak for them. Yesterday I transplanted 5 of my tomato plants into the greenhouse. They've been pollinated and are bearing fruit now.

It's only getting up to the 50's today, but I know that greenhouse will be nice and toasty to sit in and enjoy. I have patio furniture in there. I may have to bring the orchids in though. We'll see.

Molly
:^)))

Enya,

You are right and I never thought of that. Always depended on someone else to submit those photos.

I ought to get to it sometime today.

Molly
:^)))

It sounds great. Make sure you keep taking pictures as things progress.

Personally, I always think it takes 3 years before a native planting looks nice. But each year is different and there is always something to look forward to.

Joe, Yep, I've heard of the sleep creep and leap thing. Going into my second year now.

:^))))

Will send more photos as things happen. Right now we are in the middle of a very cold spell (for Florida anyway)

Molly

Even over here we get the news from abroad. Even saw pictures of those odd NYers sunbathing in January! Shish. We are also having odd goings on here, the newspapers showing pictures of people swimming in Lake Geneva. Now call me namby pamby, but even in summer I find Lake Geneva a bit on the chilly side - and at 13C air temp - doesn't tempt me.

My guess is that the effect of the chill of winter won't phase your seedlings at all. I think most of what you have listed are hardy perennials - and they won't mind in the least - they'll just stay snug down against the ground and put on lots of root growth. Will you get blossom from them this year? Be interesting to see - HP usually take a second growing season, but?

Looking forward to more pictures

Laurie, my apologies, I was over in England a couple times a while back and I did notice yall have television. :^)))))) My son calls my sense of humor - arid -

The plants that act as annuals, goldenrod, helianthus and even the aster should bloom this coming summer/fall. They were all seedlings when I put them in last season.

What is "HP" ? I looked through all my plant names and couldn't figure it out. The cassia alata will return as the same plant.

Our cold spell is over and didn't do as badly as they predicted. Pulled the plastic back up on 2 sides of the greenhouse let the breeze through. Maybe I'll get out and do something out there today.

Molly
:^))))

Molly - gotta love those goldenrod and wild asters, is there anywhere that they won't grow?

I think HP is probably hearty perennial.

We actually have snow for the first time since early December, but it's supposed to rain and sleet for the next couple of days and then maybe settle down and snow again next week. Very strange for us not to be under at least a foot of it now. My grandchildren are anxious to use their new snowshoes! And I'm worried about some of the plants that I've been zone pushing. Zone 6 will put up with our weather if they are under a consistant blanket of snow. I may have to buy a whole bunch of new plants next year. Hmmm, not all bad.

Mollymc, no apologies necessary, I thought it was funny.

Kathleen is right HP is hardy perennial (although I think I prefer hearty!) - sorry I just assumed it was used universally.

Laurie, I am still learning so no problem there. When I stop learning, I won't be breathing.

:^))))
Molly

LOL, ummm, yes, must have been thinking of my grandson's appetite there!