They Are Doing Fine Diane, Look!

I didn't post last week because it was Easter :-)
Before I get to Diane's tray of fuchsia's, I'd like to introduce you to Larry below. Larry was just a cutting less than a year ago. I was venturing way out into the mountains to find my Jerusalem Artichokes, which I bought from a man named Larry. He had a huge old fuchsia bush in his yard. A perfect example of what I consider to be the goal of Pedricks Corner. Re-introducing the big old fashioned, simple flowered, upright fuchsia to gardeners as part of their landscapes instead of those hanging baskets.
He let me take a few cuttings of it and here it is a few days ago! That is a 15 gallon pot there!
Much better photos taken by some friends today will follow, sorry guys, I couldn't wait and went ahead here with one of my own. But I am going to need yours for the website! And I think my business cards too.


Here you are Diane. These are all of your little babies just three weeks later and doing fine!

I can't believe how much better cuttings do in these new trays! I am just stunned! I am not sure if it is all do to the trays and the deeper cones. Or the longer days and warmer weather. All I know is that I am thrilled!

But where is everyone else!?

Here they are! This is the first 2,000 cuttings. Now the oldest are 8 weeks old and are already leaving for new homes. Black Prince is even blooming! We are having a bit of a heat wave here. So I am going to keep them covered for now, even though they are in full shade on the north side of that wall.

Happy Gardening!

Orchid Love and Graduation Day

Well, it is way late on Sunday night, so this is a quick one!
Diane's tray of fuchsia's is now one week old and doing well as you can see below. My digital photography skills weren't my best today, I was rushing around trying to do too much again.
But toon in next week for their third week and I will have a much better photo for you.
It was graduation day for the first cuttings which are now 7 weeks old. They have a new home and no longer require the automatic misting system to keep them moist. They are well rooted, but still need protection from the sun. Actually, the wind is a constant concern. It pulls the water out of the leaves faster than their new root systems can cope with. So for now, they will stay under their new tent.
And yes, I will be looking forward to a nice strawberry crop! These are new shoots from another wall of them you can't see :-)

Have you ever wondered what all the fuss was about when it comes to orchids? Yes, the flowers are beautiful, but for just about any particular orchid, it could be argued that there are other flowers just as colorful, unusual, etc.

What I find the most stricking about orchids is how incredibly long their flowers last!!

This photo was taken today of my Elfin King. If you remember from my previous posts, this orchid has been in bloom since January!!!