Saturday, June 22, 2013

........Momma's Rose

The gal at the greenhouse wouldn't come down on the price of the Dolly Parton rose bush that I wanted to buy for my momma...sooo I googled how to start one myself.  It seemed pretty easy.  I did buy my rooting powder from the greenhouse.  I am trying to start two from Margaret's rose bush she bought last year for $9.99 from the same lady.  This year she is not budging at $14.99.  I am stubborn too.  Here is my pictorial on what I did.  I can't get the captions to work on these pictures so I will tell it all right here.   
I cut them @ 12 inches just below a bump.  Slice the bottom of the stem in quarters, cut off all leaves, flowers, etc, except for 3-5 near the top.  Wet the bottom ( I used spring water and a green Fiesta cup - I might help..it might not ), dip the bottom in the rooting powder, give it a tap over the trash to knock off any excess, gently stick it in a pre-dug hole in a little container of potting soil.  Cover it loosely, Then cover with a plastic bag-loosely.  The information I read said to keep the bag as 'off of the leaves' as possible, so I used some knitting needles-hopefully it will work.  Keep the plants moist.  Leave it be for about two weeks and then give a gentle tug on the plant to see if it has grown roots yet.  Tada.   I don't really know what to do after it grows roots-haven't read past that.  Just taking it one step at a time.  {the Mechanics Wear gloves are great!  I wear them all of the time I help Chris or cut thorny roses-I got them at Lowe's}   7/7/13 Update.  The project was going well til a day or so ago...the leaves turned yellowish and there was only a smidgen of a new root.   I will give it a try another time.  :(

















Tuesday, June 11, 2013

...stripey?

I met a fellow knitter while helping my husband one day.  She shared the pattern for a neat little easy scarf she was making.  I find it a good 'take with me' project.   I am looking forward to wearing this around Christmastime.   I am thinking of turning it into a moebius.  The pattern is on my Ravelry page.