We'd first like to say 'thank you so much' to Mary St George. Her comment left on our first post about planting Dahlias and the fabulous link to the Facebook page devoted to Dahlias is an amazing resource! We planted them today in our pots using the suggestions found in these links and the advice from The American Dahlia Society's website.
Our first question was 'there seems so many tubers for each plant'. We found the answer to be yes, it is okay and we can think about dividing them in the coming years. Our next question was 'they have already sprouted in the bag! Is this a good thing?' The answer to that question was that can happen, just plant them accordingly. Don't bury the sprouts when potting them. After planting them, we took them outdoors where we will move them from back of the house to the front each day, making sure they get their 8 hours of required sunshine. To water thoroughly, we followed the suggestion of using a misting bottle. This doesn't wash to the sides the soil that covers each tuber.
I've been thinking very seriously about having a small...make that super small...raised vegetable garden next year. I guess next year would mean planting it in early May '12. Why raised? Because the knees I was given in the middle of the 20th century didn't come with a guarantee and they aren't working these days too well and I can't exchange them. Why super small? Because I'm hoping the neighbors don't notice it because the Home Owner's Association appears to frown on our turning our backyards into farmland. Why a garden at all? Because I used to be a very successful gardener back in the latter part of the 20th century and it's never too late to be the grand farmer I might have been. Also, I've been reading a lot about my 'global footprint', lately, have discovered my own is atrocious and possibly I can do something about that. So, I've been keeping a journal of the shade that our fence casts.
My vision is for the garden to be on the left side of the yard.
Unfortunately, the full sun appears to be mostly on the right side. I guess I can be flexible...even if my knees aren't.
"It is never too late to be what you might have been."
~George Eliot
I like this quote. Lots. As we get older, it is reassurance that there is a very good reason to look forward to tomorrow. It's also self deceiving to think that it can be 100% true. I want to play my violin in a professional orchestra. Am I good enough? No...not anymore but with work, I might have been at one time. Somewhere in the latter quarter of the 20th century maybe. What it isn't too late for is the 'essence' (the intrinsic nature) of being what I might have been. Working at playing what is hopefully beautiful music on a daily basis. Getting out my violin, tuning it, picking out music that is completely playable by me....now, in the 21st century. I can still have the essence of having been in that orchestra because it is never too late. Well, yes it is...but not exactly.
I like this quote. Lots. As we get older, it is reassurance that there is a very good reason to look forward to tomorrow. It's also self deceiving to think that it can be 100% true. I want to play my violin in a professional orchestra. Am I good enough? No...not anymore but with work, I might have been at one time. Somewhere in the latter quarter of the 20th century maybe. What it isn't too late for is the 'essence' (the intrinsic nature) of being what I might have been. Working at playing what is hopefully beautiful music on a daily basis. Getting out my violin, tuning it, picking out music that is completely playable by me....now, in the 21st century. I can still have the essence of having been in that orchestra because it is never too late. Well, yes it is...but not exactly.