At Rest
December has been a time for reassessment and planning for next year, taking online gardening courses, and reviewing the year’s notes. I have thoroughly enjoyed taking classes from CSU Extension’s Certified Gardener Program while the weather cycles between freezing and thawing.
December 6th
This morning I checked the amaryllis which I brought inside late last month. Both bulbs were rotting at the bottom and had deteriorated into a white slimy mess. When I tossed them out – the roots were wet and stunk. I have not yet been able to sustain an amaryllis here and get it to bloom a second time.
December 12th
We repotted the jasmine with peat, potting soil, and vermiculite to loosen and aerate the garden soil I had placed in the pot originally. S bought a sad looking basil plant for pesto which wilted almost immediately. I took some cuttings and set them up under a grow light. I planted grape hyacinth seeds in potting soil under a dome and set them under the lights as well. From seed, hyacinths can take up to six years to bloom as all of their energy initially goes into the creation of the bulb. It is a good exercise in patience.