Batch #1 Seedlings – True Leaves

Lately it’s been getting wet and cool in NYC. Usually when it’s above 50’s, I will put the seedlings out on the fire escape until the sun sets. Hopefully the sun will come out soon! Watching them grow has been helping me cope with being indoors for two weeks.

I’ve also started some hollyhocks about two weeks ago. I collected the seeds from a hollyhock my company bought at Atlantic Nurseries. So far only 3 out of 9 has sprouted. The first one to sprout is showing their second pair of leaves! I’ll post an update in a week or two.

Zinnias have been repotted since they were getting leggy and growing lots of roots. This was taken 5 days ago! The zinnias and violas now their second pair of leaves.
I’ve never grown Hollyhocks before. Can’t wait to see them bloom. Picture was taken 5 days ago.

Batch #1 Seedlings – Progress

The zinnias were the first to pop up, 3 days after I sowed. I didn’t even notice cause I didn’t expect it to sprout until at least a week later. The next day one of the pansies sprouted. I noticed it in the morning. By the time I came back from work, about 8 more have sprouted! I was surprised how fast they grow.

Now I am worried that they are not getting enough sunlight because they are stretching. Perhaps next week I’ll bring them outside during the day and put them inside at night.

Late February 2020 – Update on my houseplants

This is my first orchid. A customer forgot their mini phalaenopsis from Trader Joe’s at my job. She was too busy to come back for it and gave it to us! That’s how I got into orchids. Anyway! It’s been about 4 years and it has a lot of keikis now. I’m going to water it more and hopefully it will bloom this year. Last year while I was moving, it had bud blast….
My aunt’s orchid. She gave me two of hers last year. They are doing well! I repotted them and gave them new mix from repotme.
A dendrobium nobile that my coworker gave me. It’s roots are growing out from under the pot already! I only had it for maybe 9 months.
A baby from the original dendrobium. I cut it off while repotting and wanted to see how it would do on its own. So far so good.

Mild Obsession with Violas

Ever since I noticed the viola seeds available at Floret, I’ve been paying more attention to different varieties of violas. They are so cheerful and perky. I’d definitely like to plant some as an informal border in the front yard. One time, I passed by someone’s small front yard and they had violas scattered across their lawn! I’d like to do that someday when I have my own plot of land.

Here are some pictures of the violas I noticed at NYBG. I recognized two of them since I have been browsing obsessively on the Floret website. I like how they are so tall and upright compared to the small violas I normally see at garden centers.

Viola Sorbet Coconut Swirl
Viola Nature Rose with Blotch
Viola cornuta Gem Heavenly Blue
Viola Nature Antique Shades

Wild Plants

  1. Some kind of sedum. I find it growing almost everywhere.

2. Aster (?)

3. Phlox paniculata (?)

I wish I could see how these seeds got here! I don’t see them anywhere else in the neighborhood. Perhaps they got weeded out before they had a chance to flower.

2018 Update on Wild Blue Phlox and Purple Prairie Clover

I bought these plants online at Prairie Nursery and planted them in August 2017.

From what I observed last year, it seems like the Purple Prairie Clover is doing the best. All five plants survived the winter. Two out of five of the Wild Blue Phlox survived. Sadly, all of the Wild Ginger died. Perhaps the location I planted them in was too sunny.

Dalea purpurea