Sjp8987's Blog

June 2008

Posted on 22 Jun, 2008 4 comments

Now that I’ve finished my trips outside to water my plants using my two trusty milk jugs, I thought I would blog about how next year I’ll be planting more Zinnias (or is it Zinniae?). This year has really been my first year where I’ve gone “all out” buying and planting and caring for a huge variety of plants. My previous attempts to take up gardening were hampered by school distractions and soccer, but now that I’m finishing up college and have an apartment with a small patio, it has been easier to get into gardening and follow through with the seeds I’ve planted.

In March (yes, I know – late start) I planted some seeds – Zinnia, Chives, Lavender, Hyacinth Bean vine, and Cornflower. Only the Zinnias, Chives, and Hyacinth are still with us today – and the Chives are sadly not flourishing. I’m not sure what I did wrong with them, but I’m sure I’ll try again next year. By far, the Zinnias have been easiest to grow. During this hot Austin summer, (the first day of summer was ushered in with some rain actually – but all the other surrounding days have been as high as 100F) my Zinnias have required little water and are tall and green.

I’ve never grown Zinnias before, so tall might be a bad adjective for these plants, but I’m still hoping they will bloom. This weather has been playing tricks on me though because I feel like they should have bloomed already because it’s so hot, but summer has actually only just started. Still, I am anxiously awaiting.

I just thought that from here on, I’d post recent pictures from my garden. I’ve gotten some new plants as you might be able to tell…

The one on the left (above) is my new Ipoemea sweet potato vine. I’ve never seen that color leaves before and I’m hoping they grow as big as the purple one on the left (which I watered soon after taking this picture. The wilting is what happens when you don’t plant sweet potato vine in the shade in Austin)

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides

Ageratum, or Mist Flower. I cheated and bought it and the Ceratostigma at a local nursery. I’m not THAT good yet :-)

Delonix regia This seedling is about a month and a half old. Fast grower!

Plumeria seedling, 2 mo. old

Angelonia Summer Snapdragon (another one I bought already flowering)

Cypress Vine

Rudbeckia I bought it already flowering – but it’s just starting to open up.


And we’ll finish with this – Senecio rotundifolia, Senecio roleyanus. Possibly the most interesting succulent ever. It looks like peas!

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