Dear Chicago House,
I do love a bit of gardening but plants are so expensive.
You have quite a big garden and during my first spring here I excitedly waited for things to burst fourth from the ground, what delights would I see? But alas there was hardly anything, you had been hiding no perennials …except a single patch of these lovelies…
Beautiful pink peonies.
The single plant was in dire need to splitting so came fall I dug it up, gently split up the roots (tubas ??) and replanted them around the garden … Now I am in a pink paradise with pops of pink everywhere… and I didn’t spend a dime. Score!
But the pink points don’t stop there. Take a look at these geraniums
Would you believe me if I told you they had spent the winter in a brown paper bag in my garage? Well that is their story!
Last fall I dug up all the geraniums I had planted the previous spring, gently shook the soil from the roots and then encased each plant in a brown paper bag, stapling it shut. The bags lived in a closet in the garage the entire winter, I didn’t open them until a few weeks ago. I must admit the plants looked rather bedraggled but they all had a few green buds. I cut away all the obvious dead bits planted then and hoped for the best. Bingo more free plants!
Mr Chicago House told me his Granny used to dig up her geraniums every year and wrap them in newspaper until the following spring. Her little London garden was overflowing with them.
I wonder how many years I can make these geraniums last?
Love from
Creative in Chicago
XX
This is amazing! I'm so glad you blogged about it so that I could pin it … if my geraniums make it to the Fall (I have a notorious brown thumb) I'll give this a try!
🙂
Linda
i'm totally pinning this tip, what beautiful (FREE!) flowers!
I love it and have pinned it!! So glad you shared it at our party. Hope you had a great holiday weekend!!
Karah
WOW!!! This is Super!!!Im trying this in the fall,thank you so much!! Stop over and visit a fellow gardener:) Deidre~ http://simplysimplisticated4.blogspot.com
Did not know!
You know I love this tip!
… so happy that you linked up to our party!
🙂
Linda
This is our first year in our house, and it's been like a surprise party, seeing what comes up in the garden this spring. We've got a big old peony patch–now I know what I might do with them. Thanks!
WOW!!!! i am amazed!!!! : ) GORGEOUS!!!! thank you so much for linking up with us at mission possible! : ) hugs…
What a great tip. Is your garage heated? Did you water them at all when they were in the bag? I think I am going to try this!
Thanks for sharing and linking to the party!
blessings,
karianne
Nope no water at all the entire winter…and my garage is unheated. It is definitely worth a try