Love the language of flowers! Lilacs are a particular favorite of mine. We had two old lilacs on the place when we bought it and they were loaded with blooms every year. They’re gone now and we have had a dickens of a time getting lilacs to grow (tried several varieties) - they’ll make it for a couple of years, then they get “something” and die. Regardless, I love the flower and especially the scent.
CrAzY times/weather. We were 98 Friday, 96 yesterday, & should be 93 again today. Tomorrow & Tuesday will be in the 70’s then creeping up into the 80’s again for the rest of the week - some rain in the forecast.
Since my tomatoes have only been in the ground a week, I draped sheets around my tomato cages to shield the tomatoes from the full brunt of the sun in the “broiling” afternoons. They’re getting watered every day and seem to be doing fine - two are blooming ... the Sungold and 1 of the Celebrities. I’ll take the shades off tonight and the tomatoes can enjoy the cooler temps and some rain this coming week.
Last Monday, I sat on the porch & “seeded” my zinnia blooms I cut last year to save for seed. I cut the blooms & save the ones I love the most. After I was through, I had a paper lunch sack 3/4 full of seeds. Typically, I’ll buy a package or two of ‘cactus’ or giant blooms to add to the seeds just to keep some fresh flowers coming in every year. Monday evening, I seeded one of my raised beds (3’ x 6’) and by golly, I’ve got zinnias coming up as of Friday already! I’ll seed another bed/area in a month so I have blooms into the fall. The birds/butterflies appreciate the late blooms. You have to beat the birds to the blooms if you want to save seed - they have them picked clean in no time (same with Tithonia).
Monday, I also started seeds in peat pots - it is going to be a very late garden, but with the weather being mostly too cold and the knee surgery, I’m just now getting to the point of doing work in the garden. So, I already have Diva & Dragon Egg cukes coming up (less than a week - woo hoo!) and one bush bean ... I also think I see just the teeniest bit of green in one of the bell pepper pots. As soon as the plants are 4 leaves or more, I’ll put them in a raised bed (with some plastic mesh fencing for bird protection) to let them harden off and get a little bit bigger, then I’ll just stick the peat pots in the raised beds and watch the plants grow ..... hopefully, there will be no snow in the forecast (just kidding!).
Sounds like your seedlings are loving that heat! I plan to direct seed some Zinnia in The Big Garden this season. Beau has my potato rows ready, then he’s gonna do the sweet corn, then a row for Zinnia and a row for my Glad bulbs.
It’s been slow going with the goofy weather, bu we’re getting there!
Before long it will be Weed, Water and Wait!