This is my zone 8b Louisiana garden journal.
I have been blessed with a few last minute blooms on my roses this year. More blooms will follow inside the warm and cozy greenhouse. I am looking forward to canna blooms and have some dahlia seeds started just for fun. This purple Hige has a pink Hige companion and I will share more blooms soon
We are getting tomatoes in the greenhouse, and I am pleased! I am looking forward to fresh tomatoes on my plate every day, enjoying their vibrant color and rich flavor. I think the first picture is from a cutting, and I am unsure which variety it is. The next two pictures are tomatoes grown from seeds I saved from the tasty Hiiros variety I purchased at the supermarket. Some of the plants are producing large clusters of blooms. If the F1s taste good, I will save seeds from the vines I like and keep growing them. I will share more later on the characteristics I find and do a taste test. I am unsure if they are hybrids or not. If they produce well, I may even make a delicious homemade sauce, simmering them with garlic and herbs.
I am thankful for our garden path, which not only keeps our feet dry but also leads us to our most valued garden stops. Walking down this path each day fills me with gratitude, as it leads me to my greenhouse, where I nurture a variety of plants. I often pause to appreciate the view even the rustic earth tones and shades of gray during winter.
I remember one day I heard a rustle in the leaves and stopped for a moment as a chipmunk fled. A pecan fell and loudly hit the roof of my potting shed which made me jump. I smiled as I realized it wasn’t anything to worry about. My little dog raced by barking as I chuckled seeing that the chipmunk had definitely escaped capture. I decided I too would escape into my garden and enjoy the passage of time free from stress!
In this video, I am pruning my climbing rose, lifting my Amaryllis bulbs, and sharing a greenhouse tour filled with vibrant colors and lush growth that truly brings the beauty of gardening to life. As I engage in the delicate process of pruning the climbing rose, I encountered some interesting discoveries about its growth patterns and health, revealing how important proper maintenance is for producing beautiful blooms and ensuring the plant’s long-term vitality. During this process, I also discovered some green tree frogs nestled among the bare branches, which I carefully moved to a safe place, highlighting the importance of coexisting with wildlife in our gardens. Additionally, while lifting my Amaryllis bulbs, I found numerous offsets that I can propagate for future planting, which adds even more excitement to my gardening endeavors, as each new bulb represents the potential for new life and beauty. Throughout the tour of my garden and greenhouse, I’ll showcase not only the thriving plants that fill my space with their stunning colors but also some of the challenges I’ve faced—like pest and disease control —and the invaluable tips I’ve learned along the way to keep my garden flourishing in all seasons, making it a truly rewarding experience.
This is a video showing the evening sky clouding up before heavy rain. As the sun sets, hues of orange and purple begin to fade into darker shades, while clouds slowly gather, hinting at the impending downpour. A few hours afterward, the sky transformed, taking on an opaque appearance that obscured the stars yet added a dramatic flair to the atmosphere. Whether you’re indoors or venturing outside, let the allure of the moonlit night remind you to appreciate the simple yet profound transitions of our world. In this captivating scenario, remember to take a moment to relax, soak in the beauty of the changing skies, and enjoy the tranquil moments that unfold when the night sky is adorned with nature’s artistry, and sometimes brings Vincent Van Gogh to mind!
Today I want to share a picture of a real purple rose, a lovely flower that always catches my eye as I walk by. Its unique color represents royalty, evoking a sense of elegance that is rarely found in other blooms. Each petal unfolds gently, displaying shades of violet and lavender that exclaim, “Look at me. I am so cool and different from other roses!” It encourages us to cherish life’s fleeting moments, instilling in us a sense of mindfulness to appreciate simple joys and promoting peace in our busy lives, while also serving as a reminder that even in a chaotic world, beauty can be found if we take the time to look. Every time I pass by, I am drawn to its charm, making me pause for a moment of reflection and gratitude for the splendid gift of nature.
The beautiful Easy Elegance Snowdrift Rose is in full bloom, showcasing its delicate petals and vibrant white petals that attract a variety of pollinators, adding charm to the garden. The cabbage is growing in 4-gallon pots, thriving under the careful attention it receives, and promises a bountiful harvest for upcoming meals. I have lots of greens including turnips, beets, and bok choy, each contributing unique flavors and textures to our meals. The amaryllis seedlings in this group are 1 to 2 years old; I am nurturing them with patience, as it will be 1 to 3 more years before they begin blooming, bringing a stunning display of flowers that will be worth the wait. The last picture is a canna seedling, a lovely pink with striking dark leaves that contrast beautifully and will eventually add a tropical feel to my garden. Stay tuned if you like growing from seeds, as there will be plenty more exciting developments and tips to share along the way!
I decided to save some of my Coleus plants this year. One plant I supported grew 7 feet tall! I hope my cuttings survive the winter in my greenhouse.
This year, I have the polytunnel greenhouse loaded up with all the canna lilies I care about, featuring a vibrant array of colors that will soon bloom, and we are also growing a delightful variety of tomatoes and peppers as well, ensuring a bountiful harvest that will not only enhance our meals but also bring a sense of fulfillment and joy to our gardening experience as we nurture these plants through the cold months ahead.
I began pest control from day one of closing the greenhouse door. It is wise to be mindful that a cozy environment created for your plants is also loved by insect pests, especially during that crucial period when most beneficial insects are dormant and not present to maintain the natural balance. Regular inspections and monitoring become essential; by being proactive, I can identify potential pest problems before they escalate. Using a variety of preventive measures, such as companion planting can further deter unwanted visitors. I am companion planting by scattering marigold seeds near my peppers and tomatoes to deter nematodes and other pests. Additionally, integrating organic pesticides helps create a healthier growing environment, ensuring my plants thrive while minimizing harm to the ecosystem within the greenhouse.
I am looking forward to getting blooms from my seedlings next year.
Stay tuned for canna lilies grown from seeds updates. bloom
Saturday, March 22, 2025
Friday, March 30, 2025
Thursday, March 20th, 2025
Wednesday 3/19/2025
Tuesday, March 18th, 2025
Monday 3/17/2025
March 16th, 2025
Photo Gallery
We have had extremes of weather this week. We very rarely see snow. Last week I taped the windows and stuffed foam in the door and this week we are opening the greenhouse front and back with the temperatures getting almost 90 F. We always take the cover off April 1st since it will be way too hot in a polytunnel to grow anything. Then we use the area as a container garden with trellises. Watch the video to see the details.
To make an oil soap spray take a gallon sprayer and add 2 Tb cooking oil and 2 Tb castille soap and mix well. Test leaves first and wait a few days to make sure the spray will not burn your plants. Also, I never use this kind of oil spray if the temperature is over 80 degrees and I spray in the evening. The idea is to get the pests under control in the greenhouse during the winter. Beneficial insects will emerge and take over some of the pest control chores during summer. I switch to using only the soap and spot spray isolated infestations if I don’t see predators sitting right next to them!
This may be the only way I will be able to get Beef Steak tomatoes in the South. I have started them super early in the green house. Now I need to transplant them into other pots a little deeper for root development. The cutting flowers are growing well. The pansies will get moved out into the garden as soon as the weather permits.
I am so happy to begin starting seeds early this year. I am growing Carolina Cross watermelons this year. I grow these organically and for eating. It does take some vigilance and effort to keep the aphids and worms off the young plants but it can be done! I use organocide, oil soap spray, and spinosad.
I washed all my seed starting trays with a dilute bleach, water, and soap solution and let them dry in the sunlight. I started my seeds in Miracle Grow seed starting mix. I will update later on. I put in a tiny pinch of Garden Tone fertilizer in my watermelon seed starter as a supplement. Let’s see if that works well.
When it gets hot over 85 F I hope to have the pests under control by then and I depend on my beneficial insects to come out of dormancy and do the pest control job for me. Once it warms up I scout for pests and the beneficials only spot spraying if I see a need to control an invasion. I don’t want to kill all the insects because my beneficials need to have food. It creates balance when I observe first and sometimes simply watch the prey to predator ratio over time.
We got some damage from the snow squashing things but it looks like it will grow back just fine!
This was quite an adventure with exitement, suspense, and scrambling to try and protect my plants! The historic snowstorm of 2025 was in the category of crazy weather for us.
This is a update on the winter vegetables. The orange and kumquat trees are on their own. I can't tell which is which right now. The 20 degree weather will help me find out. The kumquats are more likely to survive the winter than the orange trees. Eventually, I will buy satsuma trees.
Here we have Color Up Purple Ornamental cabbage and an assortment of ornamental kale. We have wrens hanging around eating what they can find. I even have one of the little wrens going in and out of my greenhouse. It looks like the cute little birds left their mark on my kale too.
Today I am sharing a video where I am doing my weekly greenhouse chores. I first check for pests and disease, weed and then treat for whatever is needed. For aphids I use insecticidal soap or Organocide. For leafminers I use a spinosad product. I also rotate copper with the Organocide for a fungicide.
00:00 – 00:35 Introduction : Mid December I am checking on the greenhouse. It is 85 degrees degrees during a sunny day with the door open and 54 degrees at night with the door closed and freezing weather. I think this is a good set up for zone 8b.
01:29 – 01:46 Roma tomatoes
01:47 – 02:13 The canna lilies and ornamental sweet potato vines are starting to grow. We are getting more sprouting of zinnia and dahlia seeds. The wood in the pots is to keep my cat from digging.
02:14 – 03:05 My chores today are checking for pests, weeding, spraying for aphids, and spreading an organic fertilizer.
02:14 – 03:05 I have a dead pepper possibly from too much water. I have a bug infestation.
03:06 – 03:19 After a close leaf diagnostic exam I find 100% aphid activity. The little white things look like white flies or thrips but they are the shed exoskeletons of the aphids.
3:20 – 04:27 I am treating the entire greenhouse for pests. The plan is to treat weekly and continue frequently checking. I weed first and then spray in case a pest has caught a ride on my clothes. For aphids spray under on top and on the ends of the leaves.
04:29 – 04:50 The next day peace has been restored. I recommend Captain Jacks deadbug spinosad product and Jobes Organics all purpose granular plant food. The wooden frame has been very important for keeping this polytunnel greenhouse from collapsing under the high winds. The plastic is sagging but I am glad it is still standing.
04:51 – 05:22 My tomatoes do not have leafminers because I use the spinosad as a preventative and apply every two weeks.
05:22:10 – 05:51 I am pleased to find some Japanese Morning Glory volunteer seedlings. I will share pictures and videos of blooms later if all goes well.
05:52 – 07:02 I will update more later. I hope to have peppers, beefsteak tomatoes, and blooms soon! Be sure to like and subscribe all!
These Avalanche Jonquils bloom in January.
This winter in December I planted some beefsteak tomato seeds. I am experimenting with growing beefsteak tomatoes in the greenhouse since our subtropical zone 8b climate doesn’t allow time for them to set fruit. I grow Romas and cherry tomatoes in the springtime because of our hot climate. Let’s see if I can get some delicious beefsteak tomatoes for BLTs! Lately, I think I need to start sorting and saving my seeds. The seeds I collected last fall look good.
This week was cold and windy. I am thankful we put the wood frames in the greehouse to keep it standing. This year the fiddle leaf figs came inside since they did not do well in the greenhouse last year. I will cover everything when it gets in the 20’s.
These giant elephant ears were doing OK until it hit 28 degrees! They are hardy in zone 8b so will be back in the spring.
This winter I am attempting to grow some cut flowers and also some pansies to display outside during the springtime. I want some beefsteak tomatoes and since it is too hot for them here I am trying to grow them through the winter in my heated greenhouse to see what I can get. I ordered some daylilies and the divisions were small so I am taking care to overwinter them in the greenhouse to try and get some size on them before planting out.
Lake Mary Gardens 