Are you ready for the first harbinger of spring?  Ya hoo!  Bring it on.     It’s me and my solarium!  Today I’m starting my  geranium cuttings.  I love these sunny February days.

Warren has set up two large scaffolding racks for my plant trays.

Earlier this week I went on a shopping spree at my local nursery and picked up some supplies.   I’m now ready to go with a bag of potting soil, root simulator, new trays and pots.

I was thrilled with last year’s garden.  In spite of the drought I did very well.  I’m starting this season with a new confidence.  This summer will be bigger and even better.   I will have more trays, more seedings and grow everything myself.  Last fall I painstakingly saved my flower and vegetable seeds.  I also  bought some juicy heritage tomato and dried those for my own use.  Watch out.  This year is:  “The Year”;  The “Garden of All Gardens”.     For the first time I will be experimenting with geranium clippings.   I hope to save big bucks by growing my own plants through clippings from last year’s plants.  Imagine the curb appeal of hundreds of geraniums.   I will have a blaze  of colour.  I’m giddy with anticipation.

The cuttings I can begin now.  Next month I will start my seeds.

Our solarium is kept at a minimum temperature of 50 degrees.   During the day the sun brings it up to 65 degrees.

Last fall I brought in my geranium plants and they have survived over the winter.

It is time to prune back the old plants.  I will cut the healthy stems into pieces, each with a healthy leaf or two remaining on them.   These will be my clippings.  Their ends get dipped in water and the  tips dusted with rooting hormone.   Each little clipping will be planted in some potting  soil mix.   Hopefully in a few weeks new roots will sprout and I will have dozens of new independent plants.   How easy is that?

I wish you could be with me now.  Do you remember the scent of geraniums in the garden?  Ahhhh  memories of summer.