Sunday March 16th. Finally, I Have A Greenhouse!

Greetings from Alaska!

Yes we are back from the Northwest flower show. We brought back a suitcase of plants such as perennial geraniums, eryngium, campanula Kent Belle. Also, lilies such as: Kentucky, Sumatra, Salmon Star, and s a few giant oversized Casa Blancas. Normally at the beginning of February we would have started many flats of seeds, but since we were going to the flower show we decided to start our seed when we got back rather than worry about having someone water them while we were gone. Below is a list of the seed we started this year.

Yippee I finally have a greenhouse. Although it is a modest 6 X 6 from Sams Club I deem it a good buy at $583. It will probably be situated in a bad spot, but where else do I have room what with so many plants and no free space? I though about putting on our flat roof, but being in a windy spot I thought it might blow away. Now I can get my brugmansia to bloom early. I can grow herbs, especially Basil and Rosemary. I can get my roses in pots to bloom earlier, and get a good start on next year's biennials.

Our dahlia tubers looked great in their zip loc bags a couple of weeks a go. Now they have all molded. Did it get too hot? Or should we have taken them out of the baggies? Anyway they are a bust for this year. So too are my pots of tulips. They did not get established enough before the first frost. Next year I will keep the bulbs in a refrigerator then pot them up as I go.

As of right now my clematis have over wintered nicely and Dave Taplin's greenhouse and the few I kept in the garage. So too have my huge Brugmanisa. The roses in pots look awful and I may have lost Just Joey, but with a little luck the rest should pull through.

I did purchase a few bags of perennials from Costco. I liked the idea of 40 columbines for $15, and 18 Hollyhocks for the same price.

What is going to be the highlights for our 2008 garden? Will it be the primula auriculas, the delphiniums, or the clematis? How about the thought of 5 early blooming Red Charm peonies instead of 2? This year, we are planting swarms of lilies, especially the red America, and the dark red Black Out.

Most of our new auriculas came from Pops Plants in the UK? We divided all our other auriculas too, so we can expect them to put on quite a show, and of course they are almost the first flowers to bloom here.

Hopefully, my skill at propagating delphiniums from cutting will improve. Last year, I was a little too eager to pot them up after they had rooted this year I will be more patient and let the roots really get established.


Tray Salpiglossus Kew Blue
Tray Love Lies Bleeding
Tray Stocks - White
Tray Celtic Copper Snaps
Tray Appleblosson Snaps


Tray Malva Moshata
Tray Lavatera Pink - Silver Cup
Tray Nicotiana


Tray Love Lies Bleeding
Tray Salpiglossus Sinuata
Tray Stocks - Lavender
Tray Danish Flag Poppy
Tray Lauren's Grape Poppy


Tray Stocks - Crimson
Tray Erysium
Tray Coral Fountain Snaps
Tray Amber Kiss Viola
Tray Lilac Bronze Viola
Tray Malva - Sylvestris
Tray Malva- Merlin
Tray Lavatera Pink Beauty
Tray Cardoon


Tray Stocks Beauty of Nice
Tray Stocks - Antique Blue
Tray Stocks - Hot Cakes Blue
Tray Calendula - Gold Star
Tray Calendula - Orange Star


Tray Lauren's Grape Poppy
Tray Karma Blue Pansy
Tray Calendula - Neon
Tray Calendula - Porcupine