Young plants

I just wanted to post some pictures of seedlings because I think they're interesting

These are Puya  seedlings - almost 2 mo. old. They grow a little slowly

Another slow grower - Melaleuca linariifolia (?) a.k.a. Snow in Summer. Apparently there is another plant with this common name. These seedlings are the same age as the Puya. I keep hoping they'll take off!

Plumeria seedlings. Look at the one in the very back. I think this is the equivalent of some sort of conjoined twin in the plumeria world. It is very deformed. I hope it survives to see what flower it will make. It came from a Thai variety mix

A lot of people wonder why one would want to start Plumeria from seed because it can take as many as 6 years before they bloom,  however, I love starting new seeds - I think the process is fascinating. The prospect of new exciting varieties is also a big draw for me. There is a man somewhere in the states who has a plumeria called Sierra Jane (google it) that has the most beautiful flower, and he's going to start selling cuttings for $300.00! If one can get a new, highly demanded flower like that - they can make a lot of money. Of course, I'm not out to get rich like that, I just like to see how seeds will turn out!

Seedlings

Statice seedling. I've never grown this before, and this seedling is about a month and a half old - I guess it's a slow grower

Two Vigna caracalla seedlings. These seeds ran about $0.75 to $1 each, they were a little pricey, and for a while I wasn't sure they were going to make it, but they seem fine now! If you have never seen what this plant looks like, its BEAUTIFUL

Plumeria seedling. this one has two odd leaves. Look at the top left corner, it has a little ledge on it where it folds down. Also, bottom right corner, its hard to see, but its very deformed.

Puya caerulea. Sapphire tower. Another interesting plant. Left of center are week-old seedlings. All the bigger ones are about 2-2.5 months old. Very slow grower

Snow-in-summer seedlings Melaleuca linariifolia. Yes, these are really 2 months old also. They are tiny and very slow growing

I just wanted to post some pictures of seedlings because I think they're interesting

My grandpa's plumerias

Flowers

Gladiolus that I bought at the Dollar Tree. They were supposed to be purple, but I'm not complaining!

I think this is some sort of hibiscus at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower center
Big Red Sage - also at the LBJ Wildflower center

Texas sage

This post is about gardening, but it really isn't.. Okay so it is.

Lately, I've been getting a lot of laughter coming my way about the fact that I garden. I don't take any offense to it, of course. But, I really am noticing a stigma that seems to exist about a college student who likes gardening - no one does it! I did a Facebook search through my friends to see if anyone had gardening in their interests, and only ONE person did. In fact, her name is also Samantha. According to zelo.com, there are no gardening roots behind this name - it means 'listener', but maybe we hear the calling of the plants? Who knows. 

I'm not sure why such an 'old timers' hobby like gardening can't make a come back like knitting seems to have done. I can count on more than one hand the number of people my age (almost 21) who knit as a hobby and proudly display it around. But all I get is "Yep, there's Sam again, gardening up a storm" meanwhile in your heads, you're thinking "god, plants are SO boring." I actually did have someone I won't name (ahem... Michael O'Neill) actually tell me he was laughing at me. 

But, whatevs. There is something very cool,  very biological, about being able to grow a plant up through its complete life cycle, just starting from seed. Think about it. Think about the DNA!!!!!

On that note - 

Ipomoea MORNING GLORY!!!!!!!!!!! (Grandpa Ott?) I planted this about a month and a half ago? I can't believe it's already flowering.