tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397469217781711217Sat, 19 Dec 2009 00:32:07 +0000Planting seeds, bulbs and rooted pieces; dividing perennials, striking cuttings; always learning -- in the Gardenhttp://seedscatterer.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (NellJean)Blogger552125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397469217781711217.post-7420880300195242382Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:01:00 +00002009-12-18T05:01:02.179-05:00On the first day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me, A mockingbird in a Pear Tree. Two Hostas sleeping Three Persian Shield Four hardy bulbine Five wild doves Six butterflies puddling Seven native grasses Eight Agapanthus Nine Lily Bulbs Ten black violas Eleven dormant daylilies A dozen boxwoods pruning and a Mockingbird in. a. Pear Tree. http://seedscatterer.blogspot.com/2009/12/and-mockingbird-in-pear-tree.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (NellJean)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397469217781711217.post-2408880206210588504Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:20:00 +00002009-12-17T12:21:58.634-05:00camelliasviolasloropetalumI noticed that many of you had pansies and cyclamen for Bloom Day. I haven't any cyclamen, but I have orange violas. On the ends of the bed are purple and white with a bit of orange. I was so envious of Noelle's Valentine Shrub that blooms from Christmas to Valentine's until I remembered our Loropetalum. Magenta fringes clash beautifully with orange leaves that will be shedding soon. Olive http://seedscatterer.blogspot.com/2009/12/you-should-have-been-here-yesterday.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (NellJean)22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397469217781711217.post-3607707136056533972Tue, 15 Dec 2009 05:23:00 +00002009-12-15T00:36:31.674-05:00rosesbutterfly_SulphurDespite some light frosts, there hasn't been a hard freeze. Roses persisted into December as have some other pretties. These are my favorites, mid-December. Sunny Knockout and a red leaf From upper left: last Climbing Peace bud, tipped with red after a frost, red rose from a rootstock where the graft failed; Knockout, and Gene Boerner in the lower left corner. A Sulphur on the last of http://seedscatterer.blogspot.com/2009/12/roses-in-december.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (NellJean)37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397469217781711217.post-1516133832252573648Mon, 14 Dec 2009 01:38:00 +00002009-12-16T22:45:34.586-05:00There is a new Poll, at the top of my blog right under the Header photo. Non-scientific, some might say nonsensical, but I'm hoping you'll find it fun to take part. This one asks about what, why and how you blog rather than what you like or dislike on the blogs of others. Here are the results from the first, informal poll about what we like to see on the blogs of others: 90% preferred to see  http://seedscatterer.blogspot.com/2009/12/poll-results-what-readers-want-to-see.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (NellJean)29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397469217781711217.post-8105879037726500341Sun, 13 Dec 2009 10:59:00 +00002009-12-13T05:59:01.660-05:00butterfly_gardeningpinksbulbinePlanning for year-around blossoms -- well, almost -- and providing nectar for butterflies in the months where they are about can be a real challenge. I'm discussing it in December to facilitate planning for spring blooms. Town Mouse mentioned the importance of consistant amounts of nectar for butterflies and pollinators in a comment on my previous post about gardening for butterflies. That's one http://seedscatterer.blogspot.com/2009/12/filling-gaps-in-butterfly-garden.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (NellJean)10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397469217781711217.post-5125020073987574079Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:32:00 +00002009-12-12T07:11:12.785-05:00amaryllisPlease take a Second Look at mine and at Others. My 'Exotica' amaryllis has opened two blossoms each stem, with more to come. They look so sophisticated, I wish I had an important Christmas party at which they could star. Red Amaryllis used to be the standard for Christmas bloom. Other colors are popular now, and the familiar bell shaped blooms are now in other interesting configurations. Thehttp://seedscatterer.blogspot.com/2009/12/second-looks-at-holiday-amaryllis.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (NellJean)16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397469217781711217.post-5105866536249042142Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:25:00 +00002009-12-10T09:25:08.125-05:00hyacinthstulipsdaffodils Now that it's too late to chill tulips, I think longingly of the tulips I once grew. I had to prove to myself that I could bring tulips to bloom in a hot, humid climate where there is insufficient winter chill, maybe because nobody around me tried to grow tulips. My mother successfully grew tulips in the cooler, northern part of the state, why couldn't I grow them here? Chill one week for http://seedscatterer.blogspot.com/2009/12/tulips-delusions-of-grandeur.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (NellJean)22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397469217781711217.post-1848117298858527049Wed, 09 Dec 2009 01:29:00 +00002009-12-08T21:10:30.483-05:00blogblotanicalA short tutorial for Blotanical members with questions: Picks are the oil that runs Blotanical, determining the most popular of easily chosen blog Posts from multiple lists. Clicks determine the most popular blogs of the week, and the past 24 hours, by number of actual visits to the blog. Picks quickly add points for those aspiring to a higher rank. Picks do not count as visits, because picks http://seedscatterer.blogspot.com/2009/12/of-picks-and-clicks-and-grots-and-plots.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (NellJean)24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397469217781711217.post-2997507059064423231Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:50:00 +00002009-12-08T17:50:35.215-05:00treesDespite the recent freeze, the calendar still indicates it is fall for a few more days. Buffy and I took to the woods yesterday. Buffy found the scent of something to give fruitless chase; I found color remaining in the woods, including sumac and sweet gum. A small grove of ancient magnolias, at right, tall and thin because of crowding. Back at the house, we found color in the http://seedscatterer.blogspot.com/2009/12/its-still-fall-yall.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (NellJean)10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397469217781711217.post-4455076086527151673Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:48:00 +00002009-12-07T12:48:10.564-05:00amaryllisI wasn't going to have an Amaryllis this year, until I saw the bulbs in a bin at Ramona's Flint River Nursery. They had sprouted in the warm room. She said the ones she'd potted and put outside in the cool didn't have buds yet. When I got home, I called back and asked her to put the two bulbs with the tallest sprouts aside for me. Lying in a cardboard bin, they'd sprouted into a curve, trying http://seedscatterer.blogspot.com/2009/12/amaryllis-in-time-for-christmas.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (NellJean)19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397469217781711217.post-3528086567407840045Sun, 06 Dec 2009 08:55:00 +00002009-12-06T03:55:00.388-05:00I was reading the blog of Tim at A Chef in the Garden and saw his beginning Stumpery. Stumpery? Whoever thought? Prince Charles, for one. Prince Phillip asked him when he was going to burn that lot when he saw it. I searched for Stumpery images and found some interesting uses for stumps and roots and such left from clearing land. One that I found looked somewhat like my Stick House before I http://seedscatterer.blogspot.com/2009/12/stumped-in-garden.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (NellJean)21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397469217781711217.post-7011494181157490136Fri, 04 Dec 2009 21:15:00 +00002009-12-05T18:11:18.489-05:00Meems, of Hoe and Shovel, whose garden is always an inspiration to me, suggested that we join her in Twelve Days of Christmas in the Garden. I interpreted this meme to display a year's worth of blossoms, going back to 2008 for some of my favorite pics along with more recent views. Right now the garden is in confusion: Hibiscus and Roses blooming alongside Camellias while we wait for that first http://seedscatterer.blogspot.com/2009/12/twelve-days-of-christmas-month-by-month.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (NellJean)18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397469217781711217.post-423098361695098577Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:02:00 +00002009-12-03T12:10:02.777-05:00herbsDiana asked for a closer view of the herb garden's mid-feature, which I call the 'faux fountain.' After a search I located more views of the herb garden from its earlier days. Some things are best viewed through vaseline glass, but here you are, we're among friends. Updating, the culinary sage has died out and needs more grown from seed. Thyme remains and Oregano, not shown, is good. Parsley http://seedscatterer.blogspot.com/2009/12/tuck-herb-garden-anywhere.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (NellJean)20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397469217781711217.post-307903461787460767Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:27:00 +00002009-12-02T14:34:27.842-05:00azaleasbooks A partial list of some books in my garden that I've had for many years, or picked up in a Library sale somewhere. I didn't list the ancient textbooks, nor many of the late 20th century garden books on my shelves. I've given away some of my books once I decided that I would focus on regional books better suited to southern gardening. There are others that I wish I had bought before they went out http://seedscatterer.blogspot.com/2009/12/old-books-for-nouveau-garden.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (NellJean)13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397469217781711217.post-6861917156825789621Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:50:00 +00002009-12-02T20:43:05.193-05:00colorPantone Color Institute predicts that “Aurora,” “Tomato Puree,” and “Eucalyptus” will be the hot colors for spring/summer 2010, according to an article on CNNMoney.com. Aurora is a yellow tinted with green that gives off a burst of energy. Tomato Puree is a red that can be paired with Turquoise, another Pantone hot hue, for a retro look. Eucalyptus is a cool and classic hue. Other colors http://seedscatterer.blogspot.com/2009/12/garden-color-trends-for-2010.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (NellJean)20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397469217781711217.post-5596182512667359406Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:38:00 +00002009-12-05T18:48:30.491-05:00live oakbutterfly_gardeningrose_Knockoutrose_Reine des ViolettesThe predicted freeze failed to take out lingering pretties. Butterflies came out to play again yesterday when the sun warmed the garden. I found more flowers that begged display here. Randy of Randy and Meg's Paradise Garden put forth the possibility of butterflies getting their name from Sulphurs, who look like pats of butter, nectaring here yesterday on Lantana montevidensis. Even a http://seedscatterer.blogspot.com/2009/11/respite-from-coming-cold.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (NellJean)19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397469217781711217.post-4747496248394982537Mon, 30 Nov 2009 02:00:00 +00002009-11-29T21:00:04.574-05:00I was chosen by Anna of Green Tapestry and Pam of Pam's English garden as a 'Best Blog' site. I appreciate the honor, and the time and thought they put into their choices. http://www.pamsenglishgarden.com/ http://greentapestry.blogspot.com/ I'm linking back to them so that you may visit those Best Blogs, too. My Best Blog choices are on my sidebar, too many good ones to choose just 15. Now, http://seedscatterer.blogspot.com/2009/11/i-was-chosen-by-anna-of-green-tapestry.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (NellJean)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397469217781711217.post-3957890150000213822Sun, 29 Nov 2009 22:02:00 +00002009-11-29T17:19:39.787-05:00butterfly_gardeningWhat? Butterflies are gone for the season? Think about that next spring! Maybe not. One early spring night I went out to photograph hyacinths in the dark. When I came inside, there were Sulphur butterflies in the pics. Hyacinths are a choice for nectar plants. I'm about to plant more hyacinths. Parsley can be started inside or seed scattered outside to come up later as a potential spring host http://seedscatterer.blogspot.com/2009/11/can-i-start-butterfly-garden-now.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (NellJean)14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397469217781711217.post-263408958949204820Sun, 29 Nov 2009 00:26:00 +00002009-11-28T19:29:58.964-05:00Here are the rest of the pics from when I finished pulling up Madagascar periwinkles because I could not bear to see them all black and ruined when the freeze predicted for today came. I was asked about planting poppy seeds and other spring annuals. When I pull up summer annuals that are done, the soil is crumbly like chocolate cake, ready for scattering seeds for the next season. I try to http://seedscatterer.blogspot.com/2009/11/last-of-late-fall-flowers.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (NellJean)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397469217781711217.post-4041984185094621580Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:12:00 +00002009-11-27T12:19:37.309-05:00pecansFruitcakePeople who dislike fruitcake just never had a Golden Fruitcake, which has neither candied fruit peel nor candied citron. Citron is a nuisance melon that grows wild here. One ingredient in Proper Fruitcake does grow in my garden: Pecans. "As Christmas time approached, Sook made elaborate fruitcakes, dark and blond, to be given away to important people, and some not so important. This http://seedscatterer.blogspot.com/2009/11/fruitcake-with-coffee-in-sacred-mug.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (NellJean)11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397469217781711217.post-1515256393783943115Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:44:00 +00002009-11-26T11:44:54.109-05:00The sun hit dewdrops on a spiderweb, sparkling like diamonds on a rosebush with little rose hips adding color. One last yellow Eclipse rose, also with dewdrops. A last Monarch nectars on Camellia sasanqua. Gerbera daisies last hurrah before the freeze. Buffy takes a shortcut through a late-blooming bed of Pentas and Echinacea. A last look at fall colors of crape myrtles, Salvia http://seedscatterer.blogspot.com/2009/11/like-rhinestones-on-strings.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (NellJean)17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397469217781711217.post-1910205377111727351Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:20:00 +00002009-11-25T09:31:00.680-05:00epiphyllumI knew yesterday, like an expectant mother, that last night would be the night the Epiphyllum oxypetalum would bloom. When I remembered and ran out in my pajamas with the camera with animals following, the fragrance greeted us at the door. Two blossoms, one out of sight toward the floor, were partially open. Buds and a bloom supported by the Epi tree, a permanent structure that supports the http://seedscatterer.blogspot.com/2009/11/blooms-in-night.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (NellJean)21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397469217781711217.post-4384142052464777189Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:08:00 +00002009-11-23T10:08:21.302-05:00hyacinthsagapanthushydrangeaThe blues is a blending of African and European traditional music characterized by its melancholy (or blue) notes expressing suffering and deprivation. Songs are typically structured in three-line verses, with the third line summing up, or rephrasing, the sentiment expressed in the first two. Beginning in the nineteenth century, blues music developed throughout the southern United States from http://seedscatterer.blogspot.com/2009/11/deep-river-of-song-blues.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (NellJean)24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397469217781711217.post-4122267776493810585Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:44:00 +00002009-11-21T16:44:00.263-05:00greenhouseThe first frost date is so uncertain. We know it is coming, will it be tonight or in two weeks? Conservative gardeners try not to leave blossoms to chance. Ground orchids are possibly hardy here, dying back to return in spring, but I want to see them bloom all winter. In a few days, Night Blooming Cereus will open for a single night's glory and fragrance. So many bloggers have blooms on http://seedscatterer.blogspot.com/2009/11/blooms-who-moved-inside.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (NellJean)16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397469217781711217.post-8360237430170417250Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:09:00 +00002009-11-20T22:11:02.851-05:00violasViolas and other winter annuals for the garden started going in today. With help of my able assistant, Buffy, we planted 2 flats of orange violas and 8 variegated purple and orange plants. The grower failed to deliver two flats of yellow for other areas; they'll be ready in two weeks. While I was clearing the bed and raking it smooth, Buffy dug a 3 foot trench a foot deep. I put her in the penhttp://seedscatterer.blogspot.com/2009/11/buffy-plants-violas.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (NellJean)15