Bleeding Heart

I didn't know this flower before (like many other), and when I saw the bulbs at Home Depot, I had to get it, just beacuse.  When I looked at the pictures on the package of BLEEDING HEART bulbs, sure enough, the flowers really look like as if little hearts are bleeding.  According to the package description, this is good for shaded areas - perfect!  I needed something for the side of the house and  under my Japanese Maple tree in the back yard.

I bought Bleeding Heart and Lily of the Valley.  Both are recommended for shades. 

This is how a 'bulb' of Bleeding Heart looks like.  Doesn't this look like a piece of giant root?  I don't even know which side is up or down.  I just buried it, about 3 inches deep in the ground. 

26 days later, I noticed something new joined my yard - is this it, or is this weed ?

I checked all three places I planted the bulbs and found the same leaves at all three spots.  Yay, my Bleeding Hearts have successfully emerged from the ground. 

BULB INFORMATION:

Bulbs I bought: Bleeding Heart, Pink

Bulbs bought from: Home Depot

Origination of the seeds: Netherlands

According to the package:

*  Days to germination: Unknown - Mine took less than 26 days to sprout

*  Days to bloom: Unknown/Late Spring-Early Summer Blooms Mine took 79 days to bloom

*  Plant height: 36 inches

*  Grows best: Full Shade

*  Recommended planting season for San Diego: January through April - I planted in January

Gaura Flower - Sooner Than I Thought

After a couple hot, sunny days here in San Diego, my Gaura plant grew about an inch and started to show the sign of the first flower.

The first bud that is about to open. 

 Next day, the flower is 90% open!

This is the first flower on the plant I grew from a seed!  It has taken about 4 and half months since I planted a seed. This little flower made my day :)  One thing I noticed is that the mother plant had white flowers but this flower is pink...?  I wonder why.  Will future flowers stay pink or will be white like the original one?  Hmmm.

Texas Bluebonnet Quick Update

I really like this plant because the leaves are so cute. 
Although some of the vulerable seedlings became feasts of snails and slugs, the plants are doing well in the ground since I transplanted them.

This picture was from last entry.  Look, some leaves are eaten by snails and/or slugs :(

More leaves grew, and they are becoming more visible in the flower bed.  The plastic bottle on the right is my 'quick greenhouse' to protect younger seedlings from frost, winds and snails.  Plastic bottles make a huge difference!  The plant on the left is Freesia.

No, I Didn't Forget.

Freesia, freesia, freesia...
Besides from the bulbs I planted, very similar (or should I say the same) leaves started appear here and there, everywhere in my back yard.  The previous homeowner must've planted freesia bulbs long ago, and it seems the original ones have grown underground and spread in my backyard.  My mom told me Freesia is somewhat invasive, so I will dig them up next spring and share the bulbs with friends.

Anyway, here's the progress of 'my' freesia. 

So, this is how the first sprout looked like back in October.

 18 days later (one month after planting), they kind of looked like bunny ears.

 Two weeks later (44 days after planting), the bulbs I planted in my front yard looked like these...

 ...and the ones in the backyard.  Backyard receives more sun, so that maybe why these bulbs are doing better than the ones in the front yard?

 Freesia tilted and grew out of control.  But wait, I think I see some flower buds already!

Close-up picture of the buds.

These are a part of the 'stray' freesias in my backyard.  They, too, have buds.  I think the smell in the backyard will be wonderful once they all bloom.

I Think I Will Get To See Some Flowers This Year?

Gaura is slowly growing, and it has started to show some signs that I may even get to see the first flower(s) in a few months.

Just to recap, this picture is from the last entry; it was taken on 1-8-2011

Can you see how much the plant grew in 3 weeks?  If you look closely, there's a longer stem in the center, that seems to bear some buds! 

Close-up of the stem and its tip.  I hope it is what I think it is!

Leucojum - Summer Snowflakes

I bought Summer Snowflakes bulbs; it was sort of a compulsive buy.  My mother, who loves to plant, had this plant by the front door of our house.  I like the refreshing color contrast of white and green, and I wanted it in my yard, too.  Commonly called "Summer Snowflakes" has rather not-so-cute official name: Leucojum. 

 A bulb of Leucojum.  I planted this on November 8, 2010 in a clay container.  Later, I read that they should've been planted in the ground. Ah well.

33 days later, I found a little tip in the soil.  I started to get worried since I thought "plant immediately" meant speedy growth.  It was a long wait!

61 days after planting, all 5 bulbs sprouted.  I placed the container at a very sunny spot.  Maybe that helped?

67 days after planting.  I see a bud!  This picture was taken in the morning.

Same day, in the afternoon - can you see the  change?

In the later afternoon - I didn't get to see the first flower, but I know I can see it very soon!

Next morning (68 days after planting the bulbs), the first flower finally opened!!

 This is from this morning.  It is hard to see in this picture, but three flowers opened.

Also, I see another bud at the bottom of the plant, and another from a different bulb.  I am very excited!!  Stay tuned for more pictures with more flowers~

BULB INFORMATION:

Bulbs I bought: Leucojum Gravetye Giant

Bulbs bought from: Easy to Grow Bulbs.com

Origination of the seeds: USA

According to the package:

*  Days to germination: Unknown - Mine took 33 days to sprout

*  Days to bloom: Unknown - Mine took 68 days

*  Plant height: 16-20 inches

*  Grows best: Full Sun to Light or Dappled Shade

*  Recommended planting season for San Diego: Immediately upon delivery - I planted in November

Leaf-Shape Changed?

It's time to update on Blanket Flower!  After a little over 3 months from seeding, slowly but surely, the plant is growing, but I have just realized that the shape of the new leaves is different?!

This picture was taken in November.

This is now. (40 days later) 

Is this normal, or is it because the weather has been wacky this year?  Hmmm... I will have to see how this turns out.  

About a month ago, I transplanted two plants in the ground.  They are still doing well and growing, despite the occasional 'attacks' of snails and slugs.  Oh, Chickweeds, too, give me headaches.  They keep sprouting as I pull them out!  Why snails/slugs don't eat the weeds instead?  Sigh.