critters and coleus

2 things on my mind today in the garden: critters and coleus. I wish I had my camera; and it nevers fails that when I don't have it, I miss an opportunity. Back to that in a minute.

My sister and her husband gave me some coleus cuttings about 3 weeks ago, and they are growing really well. I started them in vases of water until they began to show root production, then, I potted them all up last week and they've been maturing nicely. I realize it seems late in the year to be starting coleus cuttings, but I have a competition to consider.

Most people know I'm a garden competitor in our state fair, and I've been competing every year since 2003. I haven't won a blue ribbon yet, but I'm trying! I do it mostly because I enjoy it, not for the blue.

Gardens need to be completed by the second week of October, which brings us back to the growing of late coleus cuttings. It's my hope that these cuttings will produce sizeable plants for display in my garden. We'll see.

On to critters. I went to the fairgrounds today to check on my garden display, see how things were doing, check water, groom plants. Plants are growing well, and I still have much work to do. To my delight I saw 3 tree frogs nestled in canna and banana plants! I love tree frogs, they're so cute. And there they were, minding their own business, relaxing among the flora, waiting for a meal. Too bad I didn't have my camera.