Laughing Ravens

  This year's iris seedlings have reached the point where it is time to move them from the seedling trays and into the new beds. Last year, we planted them far too close. As a result, this spring it was apparent that they were so close it was going to be difficult to distinguish one plant from another. Some irises were easy enough to lift early in the spring, while we were getting rain nearly every day. Other irises will just have to wait a few more weeks to be moved. Normally, I would wait until late summer to move an iris... but this year we need the bed space. For some of the larger irises, there might be some transplant shock. I plan on moving them right before a long rain, but that's never a guarantee. One of the other things I anticipate making use of this year: Miracle-Gro Quick Start (4-12-4). I started using it on my seedlings last year as a way to help build strong roots mid-summer.    One of the things we discovered last winter/early this spring is that critter...

 bulbs   lightbulbs     light bulbs   heavy bulbs I moved some two year old peony seedlings today. Tiny little slips of a thing. They made it through winter but they needed to move.  Why? Well... you've heard the expression: "right plant, right place" well, that would be a massive understatement. Two years ago I goofed up. Insert your own expletive. Yeah, that one. I'm cheap/efficient/lazy (add your own descriptive invective).... which is the short way to say that I zigged when I should've zagged. Last spring, we had dozen upon dozens of winter-sown jugs covering the ground. Close to one hundred and fifty. Way too many. The soil mix inside the jugs was custom made, ultra-high drainage, modified potting mix. Loaded with grit. Monty says you gotta use grit. So we used grit. Stuff is expensive considering it's just granite grit fed to chickens... but I digress. Two years ago, in December, we planted quite a few jugs with peony seeds. Paeonia rockii,  Paeo...