Three things
>> Tuesday, February 16, 2016 –
houseplants,
seeds
As winter drags on, it's becoming more difficult to find interesting things to post about. I'm avoiding the seed catalogs this year as I always buy too much and I'm intent on using my existing seed stock, so what's there to say on another grey, cold morning?
A trip to Home Depot for something unrelated to the gardening provides the answer. Home Depot always comes through with good topics to question, and today there are two.
One: what exactly is this supposed to be? It's labeled as a "terrarium", but as far as I can tell there's only a single plant in here -- an echeveria perhaps? -- plus stones, a fairy figure, and what looks like dyed lichen.
I guess that's one way to be successful in caring for a terrarium: make sure there's almost nothing growing in it at the start!
There were a few of these on the Valentine's Day clearance table. Sad.
Two: Making my way back to the seed area, I noticed these:
Okay, now people are really getting lazy. Contains seed, mulch and fertilizer -- everything a young plant needs!
I assume "mulch" means "growing media". Maybe "mulch" means "soil" in Thialand -- wherever that is! (yes, I read labels)
About $1.50 each. Who are these intended for? I'd think that anybody who likes growing things from seeds would actually want to see the seeds, but maybe that's just me.
Three: (not a Home Depot question, but related) Speaking of seeds...
...the only reason I was back in this part of the store: It's time to sow a few things. I had some success with California poppies last year, so I'm sprinkling more seeds this year. The Cilantro will go in the veggie beds, as it needs an early start here (bolts so fast). The bluebonnets are something I grew years ago and have missed -- my existing seeds are too old to germinate it seems. These will go out now so they can be softened by the cool dampness. I'll germinate some indoors too, just in case.
This is perfect weather for sowing seeds too: cold and wet, but warming up this weekend.
Hey, I'm doing something in the garden!
.
Were the fairy terrariums from "Thialand" as well?
The seed pods remind me of those Keurig coffee thingies. Yes, it's all about convenience--and maximizing profit.
Do California poppies reseeed in your garden? They sure do around here. One year you have a dozen, the next you have a couple of hundred.
Last year I planted Dollar Store wildflower mix seeds and quite a few pretty poppies grew from it...but not the kind I am looking for.
I have been searching for an old variety of poppy seed to grow the poppies my mom grew in her garden many, many (more than 50) years ago. Here's the thing... she had been told they were opium poppies! I am wondering if they were actually from the type of poppy seeds that are used in baking. The original seeds came from someone's garden down in Southeast Missouri, more than 75 years ago. The poppies were very pretty, about 2 inches across, red, and had very frilly, almost carnation type petals. They were very hardy plants that reseeded themselves every year.
The only photos I have seen of any poppies that looked similar were in some photos in a book about Tasha Tudor's garden.
I am wondering if you might know anything about this type of "heirloom" poppy.
Thanks!
Yep, I bet that terrarium fairy is from Thialand.
Who puts things like that fairy terrarium together and why? I don't get the pods at all. For a buck fifty you could buy a small tomato plant which would be even more convenient.
Home depot always has odd garden stuff. I'm always amused by all their hostas...in the desert. And the dyed cacti! Maybe they'll get fairies next.
Gerhard: I've only had a few of them actually grow to flower, and they get crowded out, so not much reseeding yet.
Susie: I'm not a poppy expert, but you might want to look online at Annie's Annuals. Lots of poppies there.
Loree: I've heard Caanda is nice too.
Peter: Agreed, just buy a plant! These are 94% biodegradable though.
Renee: Thankfully the Kosmic Kactus are no longer around in our local HD. They keep trying though.