Failure and Hope

Well, the great seed starting experiment was a dismal failure. I can't seem to find the right balance between over-watering and under-watering.  I then tried rooting some small cuttings. They're not all dead yet, but most have perished and what hasn't (about half of the creeping phlox cuttings) doesn't seem to want to sprout roots. I hope what's left will root soon.


I can make things grow just fine in the ground from transplants with the smallest bit of root, but I can't seem to get anything to start for me. 
Anyone have tips on starting from seed or cuttings?


Now for Hope:

I got up early this morning, sat on the porch drinking coffee with my husband and discovered that I have no commitments today (for the first time in many weeks)!  I got very little sleep last night, but I decided to work in the yard a bit instead of napping.  I was able to get nine air-layering pots on my snowball viburnum and extend my perimeter soaker hose before it got way too hot to be working outside.

I've air-layered this shrub before and it worked great for me, so I expect it will be fine this time too.  

Then I came in and took a nice, long, cold bath.
I feel much better now.  :-)