Old lady excitement

I knew my project was supposed to work, but I am always ready for that disappointment of an experiment gone awry. I guess you could say I am a pessimist as far as growing things go. Usually, it all dies as if I have a poison thumb. I was greatly surprised last night when I checked my cuttings. It's been a while since I did them. Maybe 2 weeks? I looked and I had new green growth on one of them! This morning, I went to take a picture and - Ta Da - it's a little bigger and there is another one showing new growth! The instructions say that new growth means the roots are starting! This must be how God felt. Wow. Way better than seeds! The starters are both blueberry. Nothing on the flowering almond yet. The crab was as I expected - dead, dried up ...

Ceres must be proud, eh?

Alive, but suffering from heat exhaustion.

The Morning Glory vines are also suffering - I have yet to cut them out of the flowerbed. Once they get in, they are hard to get out. I like them though, so I am undecided about their future.

Well, I'll be!

It's common knowledge among my friends and followers that my fig trees froze out every winter except one since I planted them six years ago. I was pondering just ripping them out and putting in some flowering bushes, maybe a forsythia and maybe another hibiscus. The birds obviously like the fig trees (bushes, really) as it's their look-out spot in the yard. Okay, change of plans. I think I will let them be. I have a poke plant in with the one fig to feed the bluebirds. Bluebirds eat poke berries, they don't eat seeds.

Was very surprised to find 3 figs on one of the new stems this morning. I didn't think they would make fruit when they had to start all over! Fun surprise. Dora, Peppylady, mentioned she hadn't seen figs growing or a fig tree. I hadn't either before I put these in, so these pictures are for you, Dora! (Also anyone else who is curious.) The figs are only about half an inch across right now, they get considerably larger. (IF they don't fall off)

 A few days ago, I started some 'trimmings' or 'slips' in sand to propagate some blueberry plants and flowering almond. It's just an experiment, so no big loss if they die. I checked them this morning and they are doing just fine, I don't see any sign of wilting or dying. It gives me some hope. I want to start a few scuppernong to fill in empty spaces and maybe a couple of the concord grape, also hibiscus. If they survive, that's great, if not, no great expense has gone into it. 

I can't be outside long, that air out there is toxic when it heats up. My best time is before it gets ungodly hot, but after the humidity of the night lifts. It's a pretty short window of opportunity.

Have a great weekend, folks!