Bad Cat

[lblanchard]

I have whined repeatedly about the poor germination of my very expensive impatiens seeds and how I have only four viable seedlings from this $3.50 pack of seeds.

I believe I mentioned that I set out the four seedlings this week, and that I was hoping they'd take root and do well.

Today, as I was coming downstairs, Roy reported that The Scamp had started excavations near the coleus and I probably would want to plant another coleus there to discourage them.

Yikes! That's where I planted the impatiens -- did The Scamp dig up any of those? Roy looked at me blankly. He gets coleus, plants with colorful leaves. He gets impatiens, plants with colorful flowers in shady places. But two-inch seedlings? Not so much.

So I scampered out and to my relief the Scamp had only dug up one, hadn't hurt it, and the deed was still so recent that it hadn't dried out. So back in the ground it went. Now I have put down a "mulch" of bricks around those plants so that he won't be so eager to excavate there. Once plants grow to about 6" he seems to get the idea that there will be no digging there and I'll be able to remove the bricks. Which are not pretty.

There's a whole big area full of cedar bark mulch where The Scamp can dig to his heart's content. Bad cat!

Comments

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry about the defunct impatiens - I lost all my superduper fiesta doubles when we had a late frost after I'd left to go on holiday. The house was stuffed full of other tender plant babies so the impatiens just had to get flung out to fend for themselves.

Here's to next year's crop!!

[lblanchard.livejournal.com]

No, I'm still good to go, I think. I have four healthy little plants that seem very happy to be in the ground. Even the one The Scamp dug up seems to have recovered with aplomb. The germination simply wasn't good. I'm used to that with the doubles, but I never had this kind of trouble with a pack of singles.

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

Hat's off to you for raising them from seed. I opt for the baby pluglings, but I can't seem to do well with them. I think our climate's just a bit on the chilly side for the poor things. They never thrive.

Either that, or they just don't go for peat-free compost, which I'm beginning to think is a very real possibility...

[lblanchard.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the compliment. I believe there's a fine old Scots term for my approach to gardening -- mingy.