Last year I learnt how to grow roses. It’s so easy. Just take a few cuttings. Remove the thorns. Rub rooting powder, and plant them in pots. Once the roots come out, you can plant them in flower beds. I got a total of fifteen new roses from the three purchased. I gave away a few to my daughter, some to neighbors, and the rest I planted for myself.
When we moved into our present home, there was a lovely shrub bearing fragrant white flowers in the backyard. In February 21 when the weather turned Arctic, I lost most of my plants like lichees, cherries, date palms and avocado. The white flowers shrub got burnt down by the cold weather. Recently I found out it’s name. It’s called Arabian Jasmine. Miraculously it grew again.
Last year I had tried the rose technique with it. It failed. This year I tried again. I took two cuttings, and put them in a plastic glass filled partially with water. Masha’Allah both the cuttings have grown roots, and there are green leaf shoots too. I’m waiting for the roots to grow longer, then I will Insha’Allah plant them in the ground.
Some plants are hardy like the Setcreasea. The other name for this plant is Purple Queen. It may wither with cold weather, but renews itself once warm weather comes along. It’s a very forgivable plant. You can neglect it, and it will stay. It propagates easily, that’s an amazing trait.
I have always loved to have geraniums, specially red ones. They are so eye catching. I met with zero success with them. The Pakistani counterparts I had were hardy. They never withered away. Here buying them is useless. I never could fathom why they dried. This year I didn’t buy any. What is the use if they won’t survive? It’s just money wasted.
Son has got me two Azaleas, one Gardenia, and a huge pot of Mums. The Gardenia, and Mums were my birthday gifts. Gardenia was from Son, and the cold weather hit it hard. The Gardenia was in the entrance to our home. The plant turned brown. I waited for it to renew itself once Spring came along. It remained the way it was. I couldn’t throw it away. I planted it in the ground in the front yard. Finally it showed signs of renewing. Here it is :
My indoor bamboo wasn’t happy indoors, but it didn’t survive the cold weather either once I transferred it outside. I looked to see every time I was outside. I detected new shoots, so I divided it. Two are inside, some remain in the ground, some are in pots out on the patio, and this one is in the front yard.
Flowers and Breezes 